Surname op de Laak - Meaning and Origin
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op de Laak: What does the surname op de Laak mean?
The last name Op de Laak is a Dutch toponymic surname, derived from a location such as a town, village, hamlet, or farmstead. It is derived from the combination of the preposition "op" (on) and the word "laak" (bay, dike, pool). This suggests that whoever first bore the surname was likely from a watery district.
The Op de Laak last name is found throughout the Netherlands, but is most common in the province of Noord-Brabant, in the Netherlands. It is also found in very limited numbers in surrounding countries like Belgium, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In Friesland (province of the Netherlands), variants of the surname include Upp(e) de Laak, Op de Laeg, and Op de Lage.
The Op de Laak surname is sometimes seen in combination with other surnames, like Van Op de Laak. This is likely a reference to a place or district called Op de Laak (of the Laak). This district was located in the south of Noord-Brabant, near the villages of Breda and Guybosheide.
Today, people who bear the Op de Laak surname are found in many parts of the world, and has been adopted by many cultures. It is a reminder of the many generations of people that have contributed to the fabric of Netherlands' history.
Order DNA origin analysisop de Laak: Where does the name op de Laak come from?
The last name op de Laak is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, and is still common there today. It's also found in other European countries, with a notable concentration in the Netherlands and Belgium, indicating a possible shared ancestry between the two regions.
The name is especially common in the North and East regions of the Netherlands—North Brabant and Overijssel—as well as in Flanders, the northern portion of Belgium. A much smaller number of people with this surname also have it registered in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The presumed origin of the name comes from a combination of the family name (op de Laak) along with the location of origin— op meaning "from or of" laak being an old-fashioned spelling of "lake". It might also come from a nickname given to a resident of a lake village or a surname given to someone who was a local fisherman, likely in medieval times.
Overall, the op de Laak name is still quite common, particularly in the countries of the Netherlands and Belgium, and in smaller numbers in other parts of Europe, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname op de Laak
The surname Op de Laak is believed to have originated from an area of The Netherlands called De Laak, which means ‘The Marsh’. The surname is also found spelled in variants such as Oppe Laak, Up de Laak and Op de Lake.
The surname can also be spelled with a ‘V’ instead of a ‘W’, such as Vop de Laak, Voppe Laak and Vop de Laeck.
Surnames of the same origin include Op de Laacke, Op de Lak, Op de Lake, De Laak, D’Laak, Vander Laak, Van Der Laak, Van derlack, Verlaak, Verlaecke, Vander laage, Vanderlak, Van der Laak, Van der Laeck, Van derlake and Vandelak.
The surname is often found in records associated with various branches of the Dutch nobility, including the counts of Lippe, the counts of Bentheim and the barons of Lintelo. It is likely that the surname originated as a reference to an area of land or a house in the marsh area.
The name Op de Laak is most common in The Netherlands, but is also found in America and elsewhere due to emigration. It is likely that some branches of the family have simply adopted the surname and no longer trace their ancestry back to the De Laak area.
Today the surname can be found all over the world, although it remains relatively rare. It is associated with people of noble backgrounds, as well as those of more humble origins. Regardless of its origins, this surname continues to live on as a part of Dutch culture and history.
Famous people with the name op de Laak
- Nico van der Laak: Dutch footballer
- Willy van der Laak: Dutch professional football coach
- Bas van der Laak: Dutch swimmer and Olympic medalist
- Roger van der Laak: Dutch cyclist and Olympic medalist
- Chris van der Laak: Dutch handball player
- Maddy van der Laak: Dutch golfer
- Jesse van der Laak: Dutch defender for AFC Ajax
- Guido van der Laak: Dutch footballer and former professional player
- Tom van der Laak: Dutch professional football manager
- Kees van der Laak: Dutch speed skater and Olympic medalist
- Enja Hardie-van der Laak: Dutch columnist and advocate for animal rights
- Victor van der Laak: Dutch judoka and Olympic champion
- Marieke van der Laak:Dutch swimmer and Olympic medalist