Surname Meerten - Meaning and Origin

Meerten: What does the surname Meerten mean?

The last name Meerten is of Dutch origin, likely derived from the given name Maarten. The given name comes from the Latin name ‘Martinus’, which means ‘Mars’ (the Roman god of war). Thus, the surname Meerten is likely a patronymic name, meaning ‘son of Maarten’.

The surname Meerten has religious connotations. The name Maarten, or Martin, became popular in the Roman Catholic world due to Saint Martin of Tours (316–397). A martyr, he was regarded as the patron saint of those in the army and one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages. The name then spread to the Dutch language and ‘Maarten’ became an established given name.

Meerten also appears to be a very common surname in the Netherlands, as records show that numerous families of the name lived in both Herbert Friesland and South Holland in the 16th century. Later on, as Dutch emigration increased during the 17th and 18th centuries, many families bearing the name Meerten left Holland and made their way to America, Canada and other countries, with the surname thus becoming more wide-spread.

Today, the surname is more widespread, and the bearer of the name can be found in countries all around the world. It will be interesting to see how the story and origin of the surname will develop and evolve over the years.

Meerten: Where does the name Meerten come from?

The surname Meerten is most common in the Netherlands today. The Netherlands is a small country located in western Europe, bordered by Germany to the east and Belgium to the south. According to the Dutch government, the Meerten family ranks within the top thirty surnames in the entire country.

The name was inspired by the Dutch word 'meer' which translates to 'lake'. It is believed that the name may have been derived from families living in the area around a large lake, with those individuals later adopting Meerten as their family name.

The Meerten family may be found in several other countries in Europe including Germany, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom. It is also found in the United States and Canada, but to a much lesser degree. In the United States, there were 897 people recorded with the Meerten surname, according to the most recent census data. It is believed that most of these individuals were descended from Dutch immigrants who moved to America in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Meerten family originates from the Netherlands and is quite common there today. It is also found in other countries in Europe and even some parts of North America, though the number of people with that surname in those regions is far lower than in the Netherlands.

Variations of the surname Meerten

Meerten is a common Dutch surname, which can be spelled in many different ways. The variant Meiringen (from the Dutch language) first appeared in the Meerten family tree in the 1600s. The most common spellings of the name are Mertens, Merten, Merlijn, and Merte, as well as Mierding, Maertens, and Maerten. The Dutch spelling of Merten was very popular among families living in the Netherlands and those who emigrated to other countries, and has been used in several countries. One example is in Canada, where the surname has been spelled Meerte for a few generations.

The surname Meerten is also found in Germany, where it is often spelled Mertens or Maertens, and occasionally Merten or Maerten. It can also be found spelled Merlet in France and Merlin in Italy. In the United States, the surname is often spelled Mertz, although Merten is also seen. With all these variations in spelling, it may be difficult to trace the ancestors of the Meerten family.

The surnames Meiten and Meijten are related to Meerten, and are believed to have the same meaning. The meanings of these related surnames are uncertain, but could mean “guard of the farm” or “person from the estate.”

To help trace ancestors, it may be helpful to search more broadly, as the spelling of surnames can vary a great deal over time. By searching for related surnames, some with similar meanings, additional clues may be found to further the genealogical research.

Famous people with the name Meerten

• Maria Meerten: fashion entrepreneur and founder of fashion accessories brand MeertenLouise.
• Pieter de Meerten: Dutch painter of the 17th century, known for his still-life and genre paintings.
• Just Meerten: Dutch photographer, specialising in architecture and portraiture.
• Jarett Meerten: professional softball player from the USA.
• Riwka Meerten: Dutch politician from the GreenLeft party and member of the municipality of Utrecht.
• Lida Meerten: Dutch composer who composed three symphonies and two string quartets.
• Michel Meerten: Dutch plant collector and botanist who traveled to Java in 1883 where he collected hundreds of new species.
• Pieter Meerten: Dutch landscape and portrait painter in the 19th century, known as a member of the Hague School.
• Helen Meerten: Dutch sculptor creating monumental stone sculptures.
• Ferdinand van Meerten: Dutch maritime painter who was a prolific painter during the 18th century, specialising in sea battles, marines, and ships.

Other surnames

Meertens