Surname Schoute - Meaning and Origin
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Schoute: What does the surname Schoute mean?
The surname Schoute is of Dutch origin and has its roots in the language of The Netherlands, also known as Dutch. It is derived from the Old Dutch word "schout", which mean “sheriff” or “watchman”, and ultimately from the Latin term "scutum" meaning “shield”. The Schoute surname likely stemmed from a person who held the occupation of sheriff or watchman, or someone who may have resembled these traits such as being bold and courageous.
The Schoute surname is believed to have been first used in Medieval Dutch regions as early as the 13th century. During this time, towns had elected officials or sheriffs that were responsible for carrying out various duties such as serving warrants, collecting property taxes, making arrests and executing sentences. From the 1300's to the 1800's, records of the Schoute surname can be found throughout the Netherlands as well as other parts of Europe including France, Germany, and Poland.
Today, the Schoute surname is still a prominent Dutch name that is commonly found in The Netherlands as well as Dutch diaspora communities across the globe. It is also often spelled as “Schouten” which is a more traditional Dutch form of spelling. Although the surname has been adapted over time, its original meaning of “sheriff” or “watchman” continues to be carried by individuals who bare the name.
Order DNA origin analysisSchoute: Where does the name Schoute come from?
The last name Schoute is most commonly found in the Netherlands. According to the Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics, Schoute ranks as the 521st most common surname in the country.
In the 19th century, the Schoute surname had spread all around the world, due to migration. Today, the last name is found in countries such as the Netherlands, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and South Africa.
In the Netherlands, the Schoute surname is most commonly found in the Noord-Holland province, as well as in the city of Amsterdam. In Canada, there is a strong presence of the Schoute surname in the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario. In Australia, the highest concentration is in the state of New South Wales. In the United Kingdom, the surname is distributed across the country, with the largest concentrations in Kent and Gloucestershire.
The Schoute surname is also commonly found in the United States, particularly in the states of Michigan, Massachusetts, and California. In Michigan, the name is concentrated in the areas of the Upper Peninsula, Grand Rapids, and Detroit. In California, many bearing the Schoute surname are concentrated in the greater Los Angeles area and in San Francisco. Massachusetts is home to the largest concentration of Schoutes in the US.
Variations of the surname Schoute
The surname Schoute is a variant of the Dutch surname Schouten. It originates from the Middle Dutch word Schout, which means sheriff or constable. The spelling variant of Schoute is Scoute, while other variant spellings include Schoute, Schouten, Schoutey, Schwouten, and Schuut. The surname can also be spelled as Schoter and Schooten.
The Schoute surname is fairly uncommon in the United States, but a large number of Schouts can be found in the Netherlands. Other countries with notable Schoute populations include Denmark, France, Sweden, and South Africa.
Schoute is also often mistaken for other surnames which have similar origins, such as Schouten, Schoten, Schokken, Schouwen, Schouwe, and Schouder. All of these surnames are derived from the Middle Dutch word Schout, and many of them have the same spelling variants as Schoute.
The Schoute name can also be part of a complicated lineage. Many families of Schouten descent have adopted variants of the Schoute surname. Examples of these names include Schouwenberg, Schuurman, and Schuwer.
Overall, the Schoute surname is a variant of the Dutch word Schouten, which means sheriff or constable. The spelling variants of Schoute include Schoute, Schouten, Schoutey, Schwouten, and Schuut, while other surnames derived from Schouten include Schoten, Schouwen, Schouwe, Schouder, Schouwenberg, Schuurman, and Schuwer.
Famous people with the name Schoute
- Albert Schouten: Dutch physicist and lecturer who contributed extensively to the fields of presumed wave-particle duality in physics and mathematical physics.
- Willem Willem Schouten: Dutch explorer who charted the northern coast of Australia and made the first recorded European sighting of Hawaii.
- Marieke Schouten: Dutch politician; she currently serves as the Minister for Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality and was the Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2017-2018.
- Jacob Schouten: Dutch botanist and zoologist who was a professor of natural history at University of Groningen for 40 years.
- Rudolf Schouten: Dutch composer of works for piano, vocal music, and chamber ensemble.
- Peter Schouten: Dutch explorer and navigator; he was one of the original crew members of the voyage of the First Fleet to Australia.
- Kees Schouten: Dutch politician and successful businessman who was the State Secretary for Defense in the first Rutte cabinet from 2010- 2012.
- Jetze Schouten: Dutch football manager and former player; he played for PEC Zwolle and FC Groningen before becoming a manager.
- Eric Schouten: Dutch footballer; he has over 200 caps under his belt in games with FC Groningen, Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar.
- Nelleke Schouten: Dutch sculptor and installation artist whose work has been exhibited in locations all over the world.