Surname Schout - Meaning and Origin
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Schout: What does the surname Schout mean?
The last name Schout is a Dutch word of Dutch origin meaning "sheriff" or "captain". It generally refers to a person in a leadership role in an area or jurisdiction, such as a palace guard, mayor, or magistrate. The word is related to the Old Dutch word "scout", which means "guard".
The earliest record of the Schout surname in the Netherlands is from the late 1500s. It was used to refer to a persons position as a sheriff or captain. Over time, it became a family name, and spread across the world.
The Schout family are an old Dutch family of nobility, who are members of the Nationeel Archief family. They are said to have descended from the 15th-century Dutch knight Gerhard II van den Bergh, who had the title of Schoutage (sheriff). This is significant because it shows the importance of the family line to the Dutch nation and their importance in the Dutch legal system at the time.
The Schout family remains prominent in many parts of the world, and its name continues to be connected with leadership, nobility, and legal authority. The name has assumed many different spellings over time, including Schouten, Schout, Schouth, and even Schutte.
Order DNA origin analysisSchout: Where does the name Schout come from?
The last name Schout is a Dutch surname meaning official or magistrates, and is commonly found throughout countries in Europe which have Dutch origins such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The Schout surname is also found in many other countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, and Brazil, as a result of immigration from European countries. In the United States, Schout is the 3,768th most common surname, occurring at a frequency of 0.002%, and the top five states in which it is the most common are Oregon, Nebraska, Iowa, TRexas, and Kansas. In Australia, the last name Schout ranks as the 2,042nd most common name, and in both, Brazil and Belgium, it is found in the top 1,000 surnames list. In Canada, there are around 1000 individuals who have this surname, with the Ontario province having the majority of those individuals.
Variations of the surname Schout
The surname Schout (and its variants) has several spellings and variants, as well as other surnames that share the same origin.
The most common variations include Schoute, Schouten, Schoutene, Schutte, Schutt, Schutte, Schuttens, Schutten, Schuut, Schuutte, Schuutten, Schuutene.
Other surnames sharing the same origin include Scouten, Schouwen, and Schouwenaar. This surname is often seen as deriving from the medieval 'schout' which was an officer of justice.
The origins of the name have been traced to the Netherlands, in North Holland, and even more specifically people bearing the name can be traced to Texel.
Outside the Netherlands, variants and alternate spellings can be found as far afield as France, Germany, and the United States. The surname has come to be associated with many different professions (such as farmers, shepherds, and windmills).
The surname has taken on many alternative spellings and forms, ranging from Schutts to Shoots and even Shute. The sound of the name has also changed, with some people pronouncing it as Shoots, while others say Shouts.
The ultimate source of the name Schout is undoubtedly Dutch, but it is likely to have been influenced by many other languages over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Schout
- Steven Schout: Dutch politician who is currently serving in the House of Representatives for the People's party for Freedom and Democracy.
- Alex Schout: Dutch international footballer who currently plays for FC Twente in the Dutch Eredivise.
- Robbert Schout: Dutch basketball player who currently plays for the Dutch Basketball League's New Heroes team.
- Johnathon Schout: Curator of contemporary visual art at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.
- Robbert Schouten: Dutch computer scientist and Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at Delft University of Technology.
- Richard Schouten: Dutch entrepreneur and technology investor.
- Dirk Schout: Dutch speed skater who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Melle Schout: Dutch professional footballer and manager who currently manages ADO Den Haag in the Dutch Eredivise.
- Tjitske Schout: Dutch actress who is known for her roles in the television series Flikken Maastricht.
- Yolande Schout: Dutch television and theater actress known for her roles in the television series Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden and the musicals Sister Act and Chicago.