Surname Broekhoven - Meaning and Origin

Broekhoven: What does the surname Broekhoven mean?

The surname Broekhoven is a Dutch name of toponymic origin indicating that the original bearer of the name originated from a place named Broekhoven. The name is derived from two Dutch elements; “Broek”, which translates to “marsh”, and “Hof”, which connotes “court”, “farm” or “court of a nobleman”. Therefore, the combined meaning of the two elements suggests a locality where a marsh surrounded a court or a farm. The name was originally found in the central and south Netherlands region and there may have been many such place-names around the country.

The surname Broekhoven may have arisen from noble families connected to the locality, or even from devout religious communities inhabiting the hamlet. At that time, it was customary for people to take the name of the place from which they originated. Thus, the surname Broekhoven, which literally means “Marsh Court”, may have been the surname of a family that lived near a marsh and court, or a family descended from a hereditary courtier.

Today, the Broekhoven surname is still prevalent in the Netherlands, and other countries where people of Dutch origin have migrated to. In recent centuries, Broekhoven emigrants have mainly established themselves in the North America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The family remains proud of its Dutch origin, and continues to celebrate its history and heritage.

Broekhoven: Where does the name Broekhoven come from?

The last name Broekhoven is most common in the Netherlands. According to the BBC, it is the 161st most common last name in The Netherlands, with about 2,400 people carrying the name.

In addition, the last name is also common in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany, likely as a result of immigration from the Netherlands. According to GENi, the last name is especially common in East Brabant, Noord-Brabant, and Limburg in the Netherlands, as well as in the German regions of Nordrhein-Westfalen and Sachsen.

As with many other Dutch last names, Broekhoven is most likely derived from the Dutch word “Brook” or “brooks”. This would suggest that many people who carry this last name are likely related and could have originated from the same village, or from families who were living alongside a brook or tract of land.

Given its area of concentration, it is likely that many of those who carry the last name Broekhoven still live in the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) and possibly Germany. The name may also be found in North America and other countries with large Dutch immigrant populations.

Variations of the surname Broekhoven

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the name Broekhoven are numerous.

The most common spelling is Broekhoven, which is derived from the Dutch word broek, meaning “swamp” or “low lying field” and hove, meaning “estate.”

Variations on the spelling include Broekhover, Brokhoven, Brukhoven, and Bruxhoven. The spelling of the Dutch “O” is usually replaced with an “X” in the different variations. Additionally, the prefixes “Van” and “De” are often seen in front of the name, as “Van Broekhoven” and “De Broekhoven.”

Surnames of the same origin also include Van Broeckeusen, Van Bronckhorst, Van de Brommel, Broen, Van Broenen, Van Broekhuis, Starker, Van den Bruck, Bruggen, Bruyn, and Bruijnen.

Each of these surnames can be found in numerous countries, as people with this surname flourished in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and even as far as the United States of America and Canada.

Therefore, it can be seen that the surname Broekhoven has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, which are all closely related and stem from the same Dutch term.

Famous people with the name Broekhoven

• Bram Van Broekhoven: Dutch TV and radio presenter.
• Jaap Broekhoven: Former midfielder for Dutch football club NEC Nijmegen.
• Herman Broekhoven: Dutch author, political scientist, and university professor.
• Emile Broekhoven: Dutch professional cyclist.
• Philemon Broekhoven: Realism painter from the Seventeenth century.
• Hendrik Broekhoven: DutchAbraham Kuyper professor at the Vrije Univeriteit, or VU, in Amsterdam.
• Peter Broekhoven: Dutch professional golfer.
• Henri van Broekhoven: Flemish prelate who was the Bishop of Bruges from 1914 to 1923.
• Martijn Broekhoven: Dutch professional soccer player.
• Trudi Broekhoven: Dutch photographer and author of photography books.

Other surnames

Broekhof