Surname ter Laak - Meaning and Origin

ter Laak: What does the surname ter Laak mean?

The last name Ter Laak is a Dutch surname derived from the phrase ‘van der Laak’, which literally translates to “from the lake”. This phrase is indicative of a family that has an ancestral connection with a certain lake, likely residing in an area nearby it. From a linguistic perspective, the phrase also implies that the family is from part of a low-lying area.

Due to the Dutch language and the low-lying nature of the Netherlands, a 'Ter Laak' surname is likely to be associated with a coastal region, as streams, rivers and lakes were often closer to the coast. The connection to a lake may also represent a symbolic connection to land or a certain region, as many Europeans considered the proximity to waterways as a sign of power and wealth.

Ancestry records for the Ter Laak surname hint at an origin from the Dutch province of Drenthe, in the north-east of the Netherlands. This area is particularly associated with the peat industry, as centuries of cutting and burning of the bog created a vast network of waterways and lakes, increasing the presence of the 'Ter Laak' surname in this region. Today, many people of the Ter Laak surname continue to make their homes within these peatland areas.

The Ter Laak surname is a reminder of the many generations of Dutch people who have been influenced by and connected to their country's waterways. It likely reflects a strong sense of belonging and connection to the continent for those with this surname, illustrating the importance of finding your roots and having a sense of place, even in modern times.

ter Laak: Where does the name ter Laak come from?

The last name Ter Laak is a Dutch patronymic surname and is a combination of the Old Dutch personal name "Lac" and the preposition "ter", which means "at" or "in". The name is most commonly found in the Netherlands, Belgium, and some other parts of Europe. However, there are small populations of people bearing this surname living in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, and South Africa.

In the United States, Ter Laak is an uncommon surname and is concentrated mainly in California, Oregon, and Washington state, with a slightly larger population in the Midwest and New England states. Although it is not a common surname, Ter Laak could be found in some Native American records. The origin of the surname in this region could be linked with certain Dutch fur traders or Dutch colonists migrating to the Americas.

In South Africa, this last name is quite common and is believed to have originated with Dutch-German immigrants who settled in the eastern part of the country during the 19th century. Records indicate that many of them adopted African names, which resulted in some versions of the surname being spelled differently. For example, Ter Laak is sometimes found as Telack.

The last name Ter Laak is still quite common today. It's mainly associated with Dutch, Belgian, and South African descendants, and is also found occasionally in other countries due to migration and settlement.

Variations of the surname ter Laak

The surname Ter Laak is of Dutch origin and mostly found in the Netherlands. It is a spelling variant of Van der Laak, which is also another surname of Dutch origin. Other spelling variants include Der Laak, De Laak, Dert Laak, Laaak, Laak, Laakk, Terlaak, Ter Laaken, Van der Laaken, Vander Laaken, Van der Laakk, van Laak and Ver Laak.

In addition to spelling variants, there are many surnames with similar origins. These include Laakso, Le Laak, Terlakky, Van der Laken, Vander Laken and Vonder Laak.

The surname can also vary across different countries. For example, in German is it commonly spelled as Ter Laaken or Vonder Laaken. In Belgium, the spelling is usually Laaken or Laakken.

Surnames of the same origin can also be found in Scandinavia and Russia. In Scandinavian countries, the surname is usually spelled as Ter Laakke or Laake. Whereas in Russia, the most common variants are Ter Laaka and Laakka.

Overall, the surname Ter Laak could appear with various spellings and surnames depending on the country and region.

Famous people with the name ter Laak

• Rafael van der Laak: Rafael is a Dutch footballer who plays as a right back for FC Utrecht.
• Maarten van der Laak: Maarten is a Dutch footballer who plays as a central defender for PEC Zwolle.
• Hans van der Laak: Hans is a former Dutch javelin thrower who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
• Alfred van der Laak: Alfred is a former middle and long distance runner from the Netherlands who represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1976.
• Willem van der Laak: Willem is a retired Dutch professional football player who played as a winger. He represented several clubs in the Netherlands during his career, most notably Feyenoord Rotterdam and Willem II Tilburg.
• Wilco van der Laak: Wilco is a Dutch professional motorcycle road racer. He competes in the Superbike World Championship and has been a part of the Pata Yamaha World Superbike Team since the 2017 season.
• Justine van der Laak: Justine is a Dutch freestyle swimmer who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and won a bronze medal in the 4 x 100m medley relay.

Other surnames

ter Laare