Surname Meeuws - Meaning and Origin
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Meeuws: What does the surname Meeuws mean?
The name Meeuws is a Dutch patronymic surname derived from the given name Meeuw, which comes from the Dutch word meeuw meaning "seagull". This indicates that the first person who bore this name likely lived near a large body of water, either an ocean, lake, or large river. The meaning of the name could also refer to someone with traits associated with seagulls, such as being independent and having an adventurous spirit.
The earliest record of the Meeuws surname is from the late 15th century in the city archives of Flanders, Belgium. Since then, the surname has spread across the Netherlands and throughout the world, becoming especially widespread in the United States.
The color of the Meeuws family crest is blue and white which also embraces the meaning of the name. Blue can represent wisdom, trust, and loyalty, characteristics that are ingrained in families who have borne this name for generations. White is associated with light, purity, and innocence, which mirror the traditional values held in high regard by Meeuws family members.
Overall, the Meeuws family can be seen as a community of people living by strong values, tradition, and respect for one another. They have a rich history of cultural traditions, many of which have been handed down through generations of Meeuws family members.
Order DNA origin analysisMeeuws: Where does the name Meeuws come from?
The last name Meeuws is mainly found in the Netherlands and Belgium, where it has been registered since the Middle Ages. Its origin is unclear, but it could be derived from the medieval words for “soil” or “wheatfield”. Today, Meeuws is most common in the Dutch province of Limburg, where it is the 10th most frequent surname, and in the city of Rotterdam, where it’s the 20th most common. It is also a common name in Belgium, where it is the 77th most frequent surname.
In the United States, the last name Meeuws is both rare and widespread. It is most heavily concentrated in the south of the country, including states like Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. It is also present in California, New York, Washington, Florida, and even Canada. The United States may have seen some immigrants from the Low Countries in the 19th and 20th centuries bearing this name, but this influx has yet to be documented.
Whatever its origin, the last name Meeuws is now present across the world, with the greatest numbers in the Netherlands and Belgium. In recent decades, it has become a popular last name among athletes, entertainers, and politicians throughout Europe and the Americas, and it is still growing in popularity.
Variations of the surname Meeuws
The surname Meeuws is derived from the Dutch and Flemish word “meeuw” which means seagull. It is most commonly found in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France, and can be spelt as Meeuws, Meeuwsen, Meeussen, Meeusen, Meeus and Meeuwes.
Meeuws is a patronymic name, meaning it derived from a given name, in this case probably the first name “Meeuw(s)”. Thus, other variations of the name include Meeuwszoon (or Meeuszoon), meaning son of Meeuw(s), and Meeuwsma, meaning son of Meeuw(s).
In the Netherlands, Meeuws is a common surname and there are numerous towns and neighborhoods that have a relationship to this surname. Some examples are Meeuwen, Meeuwse Pleats, Meeuwenoord, Meeuwenveen, and Meeuwsen.
Meeuws has also been adopted as a given name outside of the Netherlands, most commonly as a unisex name in the United States and Canada. It is also a regular occurrence for the first and last names to be reversed in English-speaking countries; hence we also find variations of Meeuws such as Meuse and Meuwsen.
Although not common today, the given name Meeuw(s) also used to be quite popular in the Netherlands. As such, variations of this name may also include Meuwsen, Muwsen, and Meisen, among others.
In conclusion, the surname Meeuws has multiple variations and spellings, making it difficult to trace family roots and lost connections. Local records and genealogical resources can be of great help when researching Meeuws ancestors.
Famous people with the name Meeuws
- Justine Meeuwis: Dutch singer, songwriter, and later actress.
- Tim Meeuws: Dutch footballer who played for PSV Eindhoven, Willem II, and Feyenoord.
- Jelte Meeuws: Dutch tall ship sailor who competed in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
- Rode Meeuw: Dutch holding company for property investment.
- Tom Meeuws: Dutch bobsled Olympic champion who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Sjoerd Meeuws: Dutch international rugby union player.
- Coen Meeuws: Dutch-Belgian footballer who played for the likes of Ajax Amsterdam and Willem II.
- Herbert Meeuws: Dutch author and former mayor of the municipality of Uden.
- J.W. Meeuws: Dutch businessman and former Director of the Stichting Symphony Libraries Holland.
- Ton Meeuws: Dutch public relations specialist, organiser, and advisor.