Surname van Meteren - Meaning and Origin
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van Meteren: What does the surname van Meteren mean?
The surname "van Meteren" is of Dutch origin, where the prefix "van" typically means "from" and is used to denote geographical locations. The name Meteren comes from a small town in the Netherlands called 'Meteren', located in the province of Gelderland. Hence, "van Meteren" may mean "from Meteren", indicating that the family or individual originated from that particular place. It's important to note that meanings of surnames can vary and might have evolved over time. Therefore, interpretations could differ among different lineage and cultures.
Order DNA origin analysisvan Meteren: Where does the name van Meteren come from?
The last name van Meteren is commonly found in the Netherlands today. It is one of the oldest Dutch surnames, originating from Dutch and Flemish noble families who lived in the present-day Netherlands and Belgium during the Middle Ages. The “van Meteren” surname is still quite common in the Netherlands and Flanders.
In the Netherlands, van Meteren is a fairly common last name with a high frequency in the provinces of Noord-Brabant, Zuid-Holland, and Utrecht. These three provinces also make up the home region of the Dutch van Meteren family. The popularity of this last name is likely due to the long-standing presence of the van Meteren family.
The topographical-origin of the name “van Meteren” is traced to a small hamlet known as “Meter” in the Noord-Brabant electoral district of the province of Noord-Brabant. During the 8th century, the family most likely originated from the duchy of Newenhamshire and eventually began to spread out to other regions of the Netherlands and Flanders.
The van Meteren family has also contributed significantly to Dutch politics, art, and literature. Some of the van Meteren family members include Henricus van Meteren (1535-1612), an important Dutch poet, and Theunis Cornelius van Meteren (1634-1704), a Dutch politician.
Overall, the van Meteren family is quite prominent in the Netherlands and Flanders today. In addition to their renown, the frequent use of their last name is another testament to their legacy.
Variations of the surname van Meteren
The Van Meteren surname is an alteration of the Dutch name Van Meter. It is thought to have originated as a topographical name for someone who lived near a boundary line or landmark, or a metere, which literally means marker in Dutch.
Variants of Van Meteren include Van Meter, Van Metre, Van Metren, Van Metres, Van Mets, Van Meter, Van Metreren, Van Meterren, Van Metser, Van Meeter, and Van Meters.
In some cases, the name has been changed due to immigration and assimilation to countries with different languages. Meteren used to be spelled Metere, for instance, while Van Meter used to be Van Metere.
Surnames with the same origin include Van Metres, Van Metser, Van Meteren, Van Meter, Van Metresch, Meteren, Van Meters, Meters, Metre, Metres, and Meter.
In addition to surnames, the name Van Meteren can also be found as a given name. The name is popular in the United States and Canada. The spelling is also used in other parts of the world, particularly Europe and South America.
The spelling of the name may change, but always remains true to its Dutch origins. It is an interesting surname with many possible variations, but all share the same origin.
Famous people with the name van Meteren
- Jacob van Meteren: Flemish writer (1535–1612).
- Hermen van Meteren: Dutch Rear Admiral of London (1535-1613).
- Elisabeth van Meteren: Dutch illustrator, engraver and painter (1645-1730).
- Reindert van Meteren: Flemish sculptor (1718–1759).
- Everard van Meteren: Dutch writer (1750–1820).
- Henricus van Meteren: Dutch mathematician and astronomer (1868–1935).
- Johan van Meteren: Dutch diplomat (1872–1936).
- Zarah van Meteren: Dutch physician and Seksuologe (1906–1993).
- Leon van Meteren: Dutch actor (1912–2003).
- Willem van Meteren: Dutch organist, composer and conductor (1915–2005).
- Per Lambert van Meteren: Dutch diplomat (1917–2005).
- Anna van Meteren: Dutch journalist and television presenter (1927–2013).
- Willem van Meteren: Dutch Social Democratic politician (born 1945).
- Floor van Meteren: Dutch actress, singer and writer (born 1969).