Surname Eilderts - Meaning and Origin

Eilderts: What does the surname Eilderts mean?

The last name Eilderts is of Low German origin and is essentially derived from the ancient personal name Eildert. This personal name originated from the Old German elements ‘eild’ meaning ‘eager’, and ‘heri’ or ‘hari’ meaning ‘army’ or ‘host’. Thus Eildert essentially translates to mean ‘eager warrior’.

As is common with many old German names, there were various regional derivatives, with the spelling of the name becoming Eilderts in the Netherlands. Commonly, when a surname was introduced in the Netherlands, this was based on the father’s given name. In this sense, the family surname Eilderts is typically thought to trace its origin to a paternal ancestor who was named Eildert.

The name Eilderts spread to countries all over the world during the period of global migration in the 19th and 20th centuries. Now, the name can be found in many countries, such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands. Interestingly, the name can be found most predominately in the Dutch province of Friesland, even though it was adopted as a surname after having migrated from Germany.

Over the centuries, the name Eilderts has come to signify strength, courage, and determination. It is a name that carries with it a fascinating history and stands as a reflection of the courage and strength of those who first held this name.

Eilderts: Where does the name Eilderts come from?

The last name Eilderts is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany today. It is especially common in the northern region of the Netherlands, where it originated. The name has roots in the medieval German and Dutch languages. It is of patronymic origin, meaning that it was originally derived from a father’s given name and was initially used to denote a more specific form of lineage.

Eilderts is a fairly uncommon name, only appearing in a few small regions in the Netherlands and Germany. In the Netherlands, it is particularly concentrated in Overijssel and Drenthe, two provinces in the northern region. In Germany, it is most often seen in the states of Brandenburg and Berlin. The name is also scattered throughout Europe in small concentrations in countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and Hungary.

As the last name has so few occurrences, it is unlikely to come across Eilderts in other regions of the world today. Upon looking up this name in numerous genealogical records, it appears that the name has been passed down mainly in the Netherlands and Germany. In a few rare cases, it has been found in the United States, suggesting that past generations of the Eilderts family may have travelled there.

Variations of the surname Eilderts

The surname Eilderts can have several variants, spellings and even surnames of the same origin. A few of the popular variants and spellings of the name include:

Eilderts

Ailderts

Elderts

Eilders

Ailders

Elders

The common Dutch variants of the name are Eilders and Ailders. It is derived from the Germanic name element 'eild' meaning 'ancestor' and 'erth' meaning 'earth'. Therefore, the full name could be interpreted as meaning 'ancestors of the earth'.

The similar surnames of the same origin include:

Alders

Alderts

Eldersma

Eldersman

Elderson

Elders

Eldersink

Aldersma

Aldersman

Alderson

Alders

Aldersink

The presence of many similar surnames illustrates the difficulty in distinguishing a family from the past from its many possible variants. Many Dutch family trees refer to immigrants to other countries who changed their name to distance themselves from their original lineage or to better assimilate into a new culture. Nonetheless, Eilderts is still an identifiable surname worldwide.

Famous people with the name Eilderts

• Carmen Eilderts: Model and writer
• Rob Eilderts: Professional cyclist
• Erwin Eilderts: Dutch footballer
• Jan Eilderts: Dutch football defender
• Peter Eilderts: Lawyer and former president of the Court of Justice
• Christina Eilderts: Professional voice actress and singer
• Casper Eilderts: Dutch former footballer
• Joshua Eilderts: Basketball player
• Jan van Eilderts: Dutch former field hockey player
• Nico Eilderts: Dutch former footballer

Other surnames

Eilders