Surname Thijs - Meaning and Origin
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Thijs: What does the surname Thijs mean?
The last name Thijs is of Dutch (Flemish) origin and its likely origin lies in the personal name Theodosius, derived from the Ancient Greek name Theodosios meaning ‘God-given’ or ‘gift of God’.
The history of the surname Thijs is rooted in the personal name Theodosius, first found in the Latinized form Theodosius, which is popular amongst Dutch, Welsh, and English people. The occurrence of the name was quite frequent in the Middle Ages. The surname could have spread to other countries via people migrating to different parts of the world in order to find a better life or to escape religious persecution.
In the Dutch language, Thijs is an adaptation of the name Theodosius. The Dutch version may have evolved to Thijs from the Latinized form Theodosius. The suffix "-s" may indicate the early bearers of the surname were simply known as "Thij".
Thijs is a popular surname in the Netherlands, along with other countries such as Belgium, South Africa and the United States. In the United States, the surname is mainly found in New York with other hotspots around California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas.
The use of the name ‘Thijs’ has been around since the Medieval Age and continues to be today, with many people around the world bearing the name. The current meaning of the surname is still that of a ‘Lord-given’ name.
Order DNA origin analysisThijs: Where does the name Thijs come from?
The last name Thijs is commonly found in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. It has also spread to parts of Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg. It is thought to originate from the Middle Dutch given name "Thijs", which was a common diminutive of Mathijs, a variation of the Hebrew name "Matthew". This suggests that the name is likely of Dutch, German, and Jewish origin.
In the Netherlands, Thijs is the 17th most popular last name, occurring approximately 8,300 times in the country. The Netherlands also has one of the highest occurrences of Thijs per capita. It is even more popular in Belgium, where it is the 11th most popular surname with more than 11,000 recorded occurrences. It is estimated that approximately 70,000 people in Belgium have the last name Thijs.
In Germany, the surname is less common, coming in at number 1,407 in terms of popular names. Still, there are an estimated 45,000 people in Germany who share this last name. Furthermore, Thijs appears in records of Swiss, Austrian, and Luxembourg citizens in Europe, albeit in much lower numbers.
Looking forward, the number of people with the last name Thijs is likely to continue to increase as more members of the Dutch diaspora take their surnames with them to other countries. We can also expect to see a rise in Germany as more Dutch citizens move there for employment or educational opportunities.
Variations of the surname Thijs
The surname Thijs is a Dutch patronymic surname, meaning that it is derived from the given name "Thij" which is the short form of the name Matthijs (Matthaeus/Matthew in English). The surname is also found spelled as Ties, Tie, Thij, Thie, Thijssen, Thijsse, Thiesen(s), Theysen(s), Theys, Tys, Tiel and Tiels.
The usages of these spellings originates from the Low Countries of Belgium and the Netherlands, and it has multiple regional forms, including Tiel, Thijsse and Thijssen in West-Flanders; Thiessens and Thie in East Flanders; and Theysen(s) in the Netherlands and Limburg.
The various forms of the surname Thijs spread far and wide across Europe during the Middle Ages, with the spelling variants reaching the Germanic regions such as in Mecklenburg and East Prussia. It can also be found in areas of the USA as the Dutch settlers brought these surnames across the Atlantic.
In England, the surnames of Tiel, Thijs and Tiels are mostly found in the East Midlands area, while in Scotland, they are found primarily in the Aberdeenshire area.
Overall, the various spellings and forms of the Thijs surname continue to be found across the Western world.
Famous people with the name Thijs
- Martijn Gerard Garritsen, aka Martin Garrix: Dutch DJ and Music Producer
- Mathieu Joseph Frederic Thijs, known by his stage name Alain Clark: Dutch singer-songwriter
- Hugo Thijssen: Dutch fashion entrepreneur
- Kees Thijs: Dutch footballer
- Vincent Thijs Van Oijen: Dutch cyclist
- Marielle Thijs: Dutch television presenter
- Jan T.H. Thijs: Dutch historian
- Teddy Thijs: Belgian cyclist
- Margot Thijs: Belgian cyclist
- Monique Thijs: Dutch freestyle swimmer