Surname van der Horst - Meaning and Origin
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van der Horst: What does the surname van der Horst mean?
Van der Horst is a Dutch toponymic surname, which means the "from the [place/town of] Horst". Horst refers to an 'island of dry land in a marsh', or simply 'wooded hill or ridge'.
The surname originated when people needed to differentiate between two people with the same given name, and so adopted surnames designating their place of origin or the area they lived in. This helps to indicate where they were from and where they belonged.
Over centuries, the migration of people meant that names were changed according to the local language or dialect, so that different variations of the same name emerged.
The earliest known record of the name Van der Horst is from 1551. In the Netherlands, the name spread quickly over the provinces bordering on or near the province of Noordbrabant, which was the center of its origin. During this time, it was common for people to take the surname of their father, so families often adopted a single surname and kept it over generations.
This simple surname has had a fascinating history. Its meaning may have changed over time, but the link to a specific place of origin remains. It’s a reminder of a shared identity and the importance of family ties.
Order DNA origin analysisvan der Horst: Where does the name van der Horst come from?
The last name “van der Horst” is most common in the Netherlands today. It’s a patronymic surnamethat originally referred to a person from a particular place called 'horst', meaning a wooded hillock. It is thought to have first become popular in the early 13th century when Dutch nobility adopted it as part of their name. Later, the van der Horst surname was adopted by farmers across the Netherlands, presumably as a way of distinguishing them from their peers.
The last name is also common in Dutch-speaking regions of Belgium, Germany and the United States. It can also be found in Canada, South Africa, single-name countries like Argentina, India, and Vietnam, as well as many other countries. Recently, the name van der Horst has further spread to the United Kingdom and Australia, as many Dutch people have immigrated to these countries in recent years.
Overall, the last name van der Horst is quite widespread and can be found all around the world. It is most concentrated in the Netherlands, but can be seen in many other countries as well.
Variations of the surname van der Horst
The origin of the Dutch surname van der Horst is believed to be derived from the Dutch words "horst" and "van der". The term "horst" is derived from the Dutch terms “Hooger Oorder” or “Hooger Heyde” which can mean elevated or high ridge and the term "van der" is derived from the Dutch term "van de(r)" which translates to "from the".
Van der Horst is a fairly common Dutch surname which has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. One of the most popular variants is van der Horst. This spelling or variant is mostly seen in the Netherlands, but can be found in some other countries as well. Other variants of the van der Horst surname include Van Derhorst, Van de Horst, Vanderhorst, Vandehorst, Van der Heide, Vander Heide, and Del Horizonte.
The variant spellings of the surname Van Der Horst are quite common, but the surnames of the same origin are often somewhat rare. These surnames include Hoors, Korst, horizon, and Horstmann.
The spelling of the surname van der Horst can also be different when translated into English-speaking countries; for example, the name might be written as "Vanderhorst". In some cases, the spelling might be slightly altered in some countries, such as Del Horizonte in Latin American countries, but the pronunciation and meaning remain the same.
Lastly, although many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin exist for van der Horst, the origin and meaning of the surname remain the same.
Famous people with the name van der Horst
- Maarten van der Horst, fashion designer.
- Jaleska van der Horst, guitar player and singer from Dutch band RAND.
- Wouter van der Horst, Dutch historian.
- Arend van der Horst, actor, known for his roles in shows such as 'Ushuaia' and 'Good Times, Bad Times.'
- Renate van der Horst, Dutch cyclist, twice gold medalist in the European triathlon championships.
- Robert van der Horst, Dutch alpine skier and Olympic medalist.
- Sasha van der Horst, Dutch TV presenter and winner of 'The Next Rembrandt' competition.
- Herman van der Horst, Dutch entrepreneur and CEO of Dutch asset manager NN Group.
- Ad van der Horst, Dutch rabbi and politician who served as the Mayor of Amsterdam from 1990 to 1993.
- Eric van der Horst, Dutch composer and cellist, best known for his works for television series and documentaries.