Surname Veen - Meaning and Origin
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Veen: What does the surname Veen mean?
The last name Veen is of Dutch origin and is believed to mean either “of the fen” or “of the alder tree.” This would point to an ancestral origin in the Netherlands, making Veen a distinctly Dutch name.
The Netherlands is known for its many fens (wet, marshy ground), or “veen” in Dutch, which could point to Veen being a topographical name related to the Netherlands' distinctive geography, someone living “of the fen” or near it. The Dutch form of “alder” is also “veen,” which could make Veen a habitational name, perhaps related to living near or working with such trees, rather than being related to the landscape.
Veen may also be derived from Van, or “from” in Dutch, a patronymic name meaning “son of”. This could link the surname to a person who was “from” a particular place or from a specific other last name, making Veen a form of Van.
Whatever the origin, the name Veen has likely been in the Netherlands for centuries. It represents a mark of Dutch heritage and history, and as such is a unique and distinct last name.
Order DNA origin analysisVeen: Where does the name Veen come from?
The last name Veen is one of the more common Dutch surnames. Originating in the Friesland region of The Netherlands, Veen is derived from the Dutch word ‘veen’ meaning ‘moor’ or ‘peatbog’. It was first used as a nickname for someone from or living near a moor, and later used to refer to a certain family.
Today, the last name Veen is most prevalent in The Netherlands. The majority of Veen’s live in the Friesland, Groningen, and Gelderland provinces. It is also found in Belgium, Germany, England, Canada and the United States.
In the United States, the states with the highest number of Veen's are Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Arkansas. Wisconsin and Michigan alone make up 22.3% of all Veen’s in the country.
In Canada, Ontario is the province with the most Veen’s.
In Europe, Veen’s are particularly prevalent in The Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, first appearing in record books dating back to the 15th century.
Overall, while Veen is a common Dutch surname today, it’s certainly not limited to one nation. From North America to Europe, the last name is present in many countries in varying numbers.
Variations of the surname Veen
The surname Veen is believed to have originated in the Northern Netherlands and is also found in Germany, Scandinavia, Africa, and North America.
The surname is generally spelled Veen, but can also have a wide range of other spellings and variants including Van Veen, Veenstra, Veen, Veenhuizen, Feen, Feenstra, Fien, Van Feen, and Van Fienen.
Veen can also be used as a given name, as a form of the name Veine, which is derived from the old East-Frisian name Vadine and the old West-Frisian name Fadine.
The surname is believed to have derived from Frederik Veen van Schoonebeker, a Dutch nobleman who owned land in the county of Drente. The remnant of his name is found in Friesland today and in the river running through that region, the Veena River.
The female equivalent of this surname is Veensma.
Veen is a nickname for someone from Veenendaal, a small rural town in Gelderland, Netherlands. This nickname is still fairly common in the region and today the surname Veen is among the top 10 most common surnames in the Netherlands.
In Denmark, the variant form Venn can also be found. It is common in the region of Funen and is the Danish spelling of Veen.
In some cases, the surname Veen has been Anglicised to Fien, leaving the surname variates Veen and Fien. For example, Fien is a common surname in northern Scandinavia, like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
In North America, the surname is also seen in African-American communities and is sometimes spelt Vein. It is also seen in Northern Germany, where the variant Van Veen is found and is a location-based surname that indicates the original bearer came from the area Veen near Meppen in the Emsland district.
In summary, the surname Veen has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Van Veen, Veenstra, Veen, Veenhuizen, Feen, Feenstra, Fien, Van Feen, and Van Fienen,Veensma, Venn, and Vein.
Famous people with the name Veen
- Lars van Veen: Dutch author, publicist, columnist and interdisciplinary artist.
- Christian van Veen: Dutch actor, known for his roles in Arizona Dream, Spiel mir das Lied vom Tod and Drei Damen vom Grill.
- Mees van Veen: Dutch writer and director winning the best short film award at the 2020 censored international film festival for his work “This House”.
- Britt van Veen: Dutch lawyer, known for her outspoken activism and for founding the Amsterdam Rape Crisis Centre.
- Monique van Veen: Dutch author, poet and illustrator, best known for her award-winning children's book series, "De Bende van Maz"
- Jelle van Veen: Dutch actor, known for his roles in films such as Wolf and Liontales.
- Henk van Veen: Dutch photographer, known for his photos of classical Dutch architecture and scenes from Dutch life.
- Jose van Veen: Dutch footballer, currently playing with GVVV in the Dutch Eerste Divisie.
- Thom van Veen: Dutch entrepreneur, founder of the award-winning online music streaming service, Tunesuite.
- Tom van Veen: Dutch composer and guitarist, whose music combines traditional songs with modern influences.