Surname Huisman - Meaning and Origin
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Huisman: What does the surname Huisman mean?
The surname Huisman is derived from the Dutch occupational surname for a ship's helmsman or a sailor – ‘huis’ meaning house and ‘man’ meaning man. The occupation of helmsman could be an indication that the person was manning a wheelhouse or it could refer to a permanent or semi-permanent role in a (river)barge, canal or coastal vessel. People bearing the Huisman surname could be found all over the world, but there is particularly strong concentration in the Netherlands, Belgium and Dutch colonies in the East and West Indies.
The Huisman surname is often found in Friesland, Flevoland, and the larger provincial towns on the IJsselmeer across Holland. These provinces are located in the middle of The Netherlands, where much of the trade routes are formed. This geography is likely to have played a role in the development of the Huisman surname, as the name no doubt evolved to describe a profession related to the booming commerce of the area.
The Huisman name is thought to have originated in the growing middle-class of the Dutch Golden Age during the 17th century, though records dating back to the 15th century suggest that the Huisman surname could have been in use much earlier. It is likely that many of the families bearing the name have ancient seafaring roots, spanning an extensive maritime history over many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisHuisman: Where does the name Huisman come from?
The last name Huisman is a fairly common Dutch last name. It is estimated that more than 40,000 people in The Netherlands today bear the name. It is believed to be derived from the German word ‘Hausmann’ which translates to ‘houseman’. This suggests that the original name holders were probably servants who worked in manor or estate houses.
Today, the surname is widespread throughout the Netherlands with some individuals also bearing it in neighboring countries such as Belgium, Germany and France.
The name is also quite common in the United States, mainly among those of Dutch or German origin or Dutch ancestry. Huisman can be found among large groups of Dutch settlers who migrated to various parts of the US between the 17th and 19th centuries. Currently, the states that have the highest percentage of people living with this name include New Jersey, Iowa, and Michigan.
Within the Netherlands, the surname Huisman is particularly prevalent in middle and southern parts of the country, especially in Gelderland, Drenthe, and North Holland. Ultimately, the areas with the highest concentration are around cities such as Aalsmeer, Zaanstad, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Den Haag.
In summary, Huisman is a common Dutch surname that is widespread throughout the Netherlands and countries with Dutch connections such as the United States. It is most concentrated around areas of large Dutch populations such as in the states of New Jersey, Iowa and Michigan, and the cities of Aalsmeer, Zaanstad, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Den Haag.
Variations of the surname Huisman
The surname Huisman is thought to have originated from the Netherlands, which is where the first records of the surname appeared. The most commonly accepted spelling for the surname is Huisman, however, other spellings can be found. Variations of the surname Huisman can include Huijmans, Huijsman, Huijmann, Huismann, Huisman, and Huismans. Additionally, Huysman and Huysmans are also thought to be variants of the same surname.
Surnames which have originated from the same roots as Huisman can include Hooijmans and Hooijsman. Additionally, some examples of alternate surnames which have possibly developed from the same roots as Huisman include Hoogmans, Hoogman, and Huitink.
In some cases, spelling errors or regional dialects might have also caused other surnames to share the same origin as Huisman. Examples of such surnames could include Heijman, Heusman, Heusmann, Hooijman, Hooisma, Hooismans, and Huisjes.
Huisman is not an uncommon name and continues to be popular around the world. It is most common in the Netherlands, and can also be found in other countries such as Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, the United Kingdom and the United States. As the surname spreads throughout the globe, alterations to its spelling are becoming more common, and therefore more variants of the name are appearing.
Famous people with the name Huisman
- Michiel Huisman: Dutch actor known for roles in Game of Thrones, Wild, Amsterdam Heavy and Nashville.
- Harm Wouter Huisman: Dutch physicist, professor at the University of Michigan.
- Kyrill Huisman: Dutch violinist, competed at the X-Factor in 2017.
- Heermee Huisman: Dutch boxer who has competed in both amateur and professional matches.
- Rens Huisman: Dutch marathoner who represented his country in the 1964 Olympic Games.
- Nicolas Huisman: Belgian soccer player, played with Leicester City Football Club.
- Sjoerd Huisman: Dutch painter and sculptor best known for his abstract works.
- Ab Huisman: Dutch cycling champion who won two silver medals in the 1960 Olympic Games.
- Freke Huisman: Dutch musician and composer, one of the original members of the Metropole Orchestra.
- Harry Huisman: Dutch journalist and television presenter, best known for his work on RTL 5.