Surname van het Laar - Meaning and Origin
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van het Laar: What does the surname van het Laar mean?
"Van het Laar" is a Dutch surname that roughly translates to "from the clearing". It is derived from Middle Dutch "laer", which means clearing or sparse woodland, often designated in a landscape as a pasture for cattle, sheep, and horses. The term "van" bears the meaning "from", thus “Van het Laar” means “from the clearing”. It refers to families who originally lived near or within such geographical features. The use of geographical features in surnames was a common practice in the Netherlands and served as a means to identify where individuals or families were from. It was particularly useful in differentiating people with the same first names in the same localities.
Order DNA origin analysisvan het Laar: Where does the name van het Laar come from?
The last name van het Laar is quite common today, primarily in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the United States.
In the Netherlands, van het Laar is most commonly found in the provinces of North Holland and Gelderland. It is estimated that there are around 6,500 people with the surname van het Laar currently living in the country.
In Belgium, the name van het Laar is particularly prominent in East Flanders. There are around 1,400 individuals with this last name living in the country.
In Germany, the name van het Laar is scattered across many different regions, including Berlin, Bavaria, and Saxony. Approximately 800 people with the surname van het Laar reside in the country.
Finally, in the United States, a substantial number of people with the surname van het Laar now live in the states of California, New York, and Texas. It is estimated that more than 1,500 people with this last name live in the United States.
Overall, the surname van het Laar is quite common today, especially in areas such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the United States. With over 10,000 individuals with the name van het Laar living in these countries, chances are you will come across people with this last name.
Variations of the surname van het Laar
Van Het Laar is a surname that is believed to be of Dutch origin, making it quite rare. Variant spellings of this name include van Hetlar, Van Hetlaar, Van Hetlare, and Hetlar. Other surnames of the same origin are Hetlar, Hetlaar, and Hetlare.
The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to 1373, when a certain "Hannam van Hetlar" was in possession of some property in the municipality of Hardenberg in the Netherlands. In 1541, an individual known as Saeck van Hetlaer entered into possession of property in Groningen.
The word 'laar' can either refer to the place name of Laar in the Netherlands, or be derived from the word 'gelaar', which is an old-fashioned Dutch term for an open acre of land. In either case, the original holders of the Van Het Laar surname from the Groningen region are believed to be descendants of a person who lived and/or had originated in Laar. The Van Het Laar family then spread out from their origins, establishing numerous branches across Europe and beyond.
Meanwhile, the Hetlar variant of the surname possibly originates from the German township of Hatlar near the Dutch border. The name is thought to be derived from a German word meaning 'woods', which is an indication of where the family resided at the time.
This then explains how different spellings and surnames with the same origin can arise from a single one. In this case, the combination of geographical location and language provides an explanation for the origin and spread of this particular surname.
Famous people with the name van het Laar
- Ingrid van Het Laar: German-Dutch television and film actress.
- Annemieke van Het Laar: Dutch middle-distance runner and triple European Champion.
- Winfried van Het Laar: Dutch composer and music producer.
- Co van Het Laar: Dutch author.
- Hein van Het Laar: Dutch professor of psychosocial methods in health care.
- Tineke van Het Laar: Dutch television editor and writer.
- Eveline van Het Laar: Dutch teacher and author.
- Dorien van Het Laar: Dutch singer.
- Victor van Het Laar: Dutch classical music composer and conductor.
- Arjan van Het Laar: Dutch journalist and television producer.
- Jan van Het Laar: Dutch painter.
- Youngen van Het Laar: Dutch sculptor and ceramics artist.
- Ferdinand van Het Laar: Dutch university professor.
- Pat van Het Laar: Dutch painter.
- Joke van Het Laar: Dutch radio and television presenter.