Surname Broekhuis - Meaning and Origin

Broekhuis: What does the surname Broekhuis mean?

The last name Broekhuis is a low German patronymic surname that is derived from the Dutch words "brugh” which means bridge and “huis” which means house. Put together, the literal translation of the surname is "bridge house". It is believed to have originated as a habitation name, which was a name given to a person who resided near a bridge, or more likely it was the name of a person who maintained or lived near a bridge.

The first recorded spelling of the family name was documented in 1337 when one Roesinc van Bruckehuys, who was a court painter to the Duchess of Brabant was registered in the Archive of the city of Leuven.

Throughout the centuries, the spelling of the surname varied in different documents such as Brokhuysen, Brockhuijs, Bruckerijs, Brukhuys, Brukhuysen, Brukhuijs, Brukhuis, Brukhuyser, Broekhuis, Broekhuijs, Brukhuy, Brukhuyse, Brukhuyzen, Brukijs, Brukoys, Bruocuysen, Bruucuysen and Bruykhuysen.

There are also other, less common, Belgian and Dutch versions of this surname, such as Bruehusen, Brukhuesen, Brukhussen, Brukhuyse, and Brukkum. Today, the surname Broekhuis is predominantly found in the Netherlands and Belgium, where it remains a widespread surname.

Broekhuis: Where does the name Broekhuis come from?

The Broekhuis surname is primarily found in the Netherlands today. Dutch surname expert Kees Kuiken has identified Broekhuis as a place-name derived from a combination of "broek" (marsh/bog, which later became a peninsula) and "huis" (house). The place-name was most likely formed during the centuries-long battle of Dutch began reclaiming land from the sea in the Middle Ages.

Broekhuis was particularly common in the northeastern province of Groningen. Families with this last name first appear in early 16th-century registers of the ter Huurne parishes in Oldambt, in the municipality of Reiderland. As workers drained marshland, these properties became increasingly valuable and their owners prospered.

Evidence suggests Broekhuis families were well established and influential in Amsterdam by the late 1600s. Lestan Ten Broekhuys served as clerk of the Amsterdam City Council in 1693. By the mid 1700s the last name was also found in the Dutch colonies of Surinam (now part of South America, with the Dutch East and West Indies, and parts of the Caribbean.

Today, Broekhuis and its variants, such as Brökhuis, van Broekhuis, Broekhuijs, and van Broekhuijs, are widely distributed in the Netherlands. Families bearing this name can be found in Amsterdam, Groningen, Drenthe, Flevoland, Utrecht, and Zeeland.

Variations of the surname Broekhuis

The surname Broekhuis can be spelled/pronounced in a few different ways depending on the language of origin. First, in Dutch, the surname is spelled as “Broekhuis”. Variations of this surname include Breukhuizen, Brekhuis, and Brokhuizen.

In Frisian, the variation of Broekhuis is Brechhuysen and there are a few surnames which have “Broekhuis” as their origin. Those spellings are Breckhuysen, Brexhuisen, Brockhuis, Brettuhus, and Breuchuis.

In German, the variation of Broekhuis is “Brockhausen” and there are a few surnames which have “Brockhausen” as their origin. Those spellings are Brockhousen, Brockhusen, Brockhaus, Brockhuizen, and Brockhauzen.

Finally, in Low German, the variation of Broekhuis is “Brockhüse” and there are a few surnames which have “Brockhüse” as their origin. Those spellings are Bachhause, Brakhüse, Brechhuse, Brockhues, and Brockhuesen.

Overall, the surname Broekhuis has a variety of spellings and variations depending on the language of origin. The surnames which trace their origins back to Broekhuis are Breukhuizen, Brekhuis, Brokhuizen, Brechhuysen, Breckhuysen, Brexhuisen, Brockhuis, Brettuhus, Breuchuis, Brockhausen, Brockhusen, Brockhaus, Brockhuizen, Brockhauzen, Bachhause, Brakhüse, Brechhuse, Brockhues, and Brockhuesen.

Famous people with the name Broekhuis

• Johan Broekhuis: Johan is a Dutch footballer who has played for clubs in the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain. He currently holds the record of all-time most appearances for Almere City in the Eerste Divisie.
• Thea Broekhuis: Thea is a Dutch slalom canoeist. She was the under 23 world champion in 2018 in the C1 event, and is known for her performance in the European and World Championships.
• Edward Broekhuis: Edward is a Dutch artist, sculptor and designer. He was the winner of the Royal Prize for Dutch Sculpture in 2014 and the winner of the Royal Prize for Visual Arts in 2018.
• Sietse Broekhuis: Sietse is a Dutch basketball player who currently plays for the CB Granada in Spain. He is known for his record setting season in Spain during 2014/15.
• Steven Broekhuis: Steven is a Dutch long distance runner who was European Cross Country Champion in 1995. He set the former championship record during that race.
• Jan Broekhuis: Jan is a Dutch politician who served as a member of the Tweede Kamer from 1986 to 1998, representing the Labour party.
• Ab Broekhuis: Ab was a Dutch philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively in the fields of philosophy and theology. He is known for his contribution to the development of Neo-Kantianism in the 19th century.
• Ingrid Broekhuis: Ingrid is a Dutch architect and artist who is known for her large scale sculptures and installations. She has exhibited her work in the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and the US.
• Paul Broekhuis: Paul is a Dutch photographer who specializes in travel photography. His work is featured in National Geographic, BBC, and GEO Magazine.

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