Surname von Heemskerck - Meaning and Origin
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von Heemskerck: What does the surname von Heemskerck mean?
The surname von Heemskerck is derived from an old Dutch place-name, Heemskerck, that is now part of the town of Velsen-Noord in North Holland. The etymology of the name itself is somewhat unclear but it is likely related to the Dutch words ‘hemel’ (heaven) and ‘kerk’ (church). Thus, many believe that the name literally translates to 'heavenly church'.
The von Heemskerck family is mostly concentrated in the province of North Holland. In the early days of Dutch settlement, members of the von Heemskerck family were among the first to settle in the area. Throughout the centuries, descendents of the family have populated the region, continuing to make their home in North Holland.
The von Heemskerck family is a prestigious Dutch family with a long history. During the fifteen and sixteenth centuries, Maarten van Heemskerck, the great-grandson of the family’s first settler, rose to fame as a painter, cartographer, and explorer. His painting of the Battle of Gibraltar is one of the most famous Dutch works of the period. He was also involved in the defeat of the Spanish armada in 1588.
Today, the von Heemskerck family remains a prominent Dutch family. Though the family no longer hold their title as nobility, a number of members have continued to make their mark in the fields of law, finance, and economics. In the present day, the von Heemskerck family remains a well-respected Dutch family.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Heemskerck: Where does the name von Heemskerck come from?
The last name von Heemskerck is a Dutch and German surname with a notable history dating back to the 12th century. The von Heemskerck family was prominent in Dutch politics and history during the 16th and 17th centuries, and their name remains common in areas of the Netherlands and Germany today.
The von Heemskerck surname is particularly common in the Netherlands provinces of Utrecht, Flevoland, and Friesland, especially near the city of Heemskerk. It can also be found in the Dutch cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. In Germany, the surname is most commonly found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, especially near the city of Heemskerk.
At the time of the 2010 Netherlands census, over 11,400 people were recorded as having the von Heemskerck surname, making it the 22nd most common Dutch surname. According to the 2016 German census, approximately 5,100 people had a variation of the surname.
In addition to the Netherlands and Germany, people with the von Heemskerck surname can be found in other countries including Belgium, Denmark, and the United States. The family is typically associated with Dutch nobility and their coat of arms is still used by some members of the family to this day as a symbol of their heritage.
Variations of the surname von Heemskerck
The surname von Heemskerck is a Dutch noble surname commonly associated with the upper classes of Holland and Dutch colonies. Its variants range from the classic Dutch spelling of 'van Heemskerck' and 'van Hemkerck' to the English and other international spellings such as 'von Heemskerk', 'von Hemkerck' and 'von Heimkerck'. In addition to these variations, some may have also adopted alternative spellings through Anglicisations such as 'von Heimskirk', 'Vonhemskerk', 'VonHeemskerk' or 'Von Heemskerck'.
The most well-known example of a related surname to 'von Heemskerck' is 'van Heemskerck', a spelling commonly used in Dutch communities. This is effectively the same surname with a slight alteration in spelling, typically caused by a pronunciation change. It can also be spelled with a double 's': 'Vans Heemskerck' or 'Vonn Heemskerck'.
Some bearers of the same surname may have adopted alternative spellings due to dialect changes or through regional influences such as 'vom Heimskerck' which is a German spelling or 'van Heinerski' which is a Polish adaptation of the name.
In addition to these different spellings and surnames, some may be descended from its noble roots and retain the traditional coat of arms associated with the family. This includes the 'von Heemskerck' coat of arms which consists of three gold helmets surrounding a blue 'V'. Members of the van Heemkerck line may also have adopted a slightly different coat of arms, featuring three silver helmets and a red 'V'.
Famous people with the name von Heemskerck
- Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp, known as Maarten Tromp, a famous Dutch naval officer in the Dutch navy during the 16th and 17th centuries.
- János Hummel, a Hungarian composer and conductor of classical music.
- Elisabeth Ryan, a Welsh actress and model.
- Jan van Heemskerck van Veen, a Dutch painter active in the 16th century.
- Arnold Maarten van Heemskerck de Jonge, a Dutch admiral and the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies in the 19th century.
- Martin van Heemskerck, a Dutch explorer who made two voyages to the East Indies from 1598 to 1602.
- Lucas Willem van Heemskerck van Beest, a Dutch politician who served as a diplomat for the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1645 to 1651.
- Sarah-Lee van Heemskerck, an entertainment lawyer and television producer.
- Don Philipse van Heemskerck, a Dutch nobleman in the late 16th century.
- Pieter van Heemskerck, a Dutch explorer who circumnavigated the globe in the 1590s.