Surname Von Heemstra - Meaning and Origin
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Von Heemstra: What does the surname Von Heemstra mean?
The last name Von Heemstra is of Dutch origin and is believed to be toponymic, which means that it is derived from the name of a place. In this case, it is likely to have come from the small village of Haamstede in the Netherlands, as the name would be written as 'van Haamstede' in Dutch. The name literally translates to 'from Haamstede' in English, with the 'von' being a typical German preposition for 'from.'
The Von Heemstra family is believed to have descended from Haamstede, and the name is usually used to trace the ancestry of a family back to this region. It is a common surname for those who trace their genealogy to certain areas of the Netherlands, although it can also be found in other countries.
The Von Heemstra family is closely associated with the Dutch nobility, and many prominent members of the family during their history have held what is now known as 'van' in their name, which is a characteristic mainly reserved for the upper class of the Netherlands. Therefore, the Von Heemstra name is often a mark of nobility and respect among those who bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisVon Heemstra: Where does the name Von Heemstra come from?
The last name Von Heemstra is most commonly found in the Netherlands, where it has a long and proud history. It is believed to be of German origin, though it is most associated with the Dutch, having been borne by many prominent Dutch families over the centuries.
Von Heemstra is a patronymic name, meaning "son of Heemstra," the latter being a common Dutch given name. Early records of the name trace it back to the 1500s, when members of a Von Heemstra family served as mayors of Rotterdam, a major port city.
Many prominent members of the Dutch nobility have had the surname, including two members of the Dutch royal family: filmmaker Quincy Jones and his mother Irene Jones.
Today, the surname is still quite common in the Netherlands, with over 8,500 people currently living there with the last name. It is also relatively common in other European countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where it is often spelled Von Heymstrasse. The surname is also found in Canada, the United States, and other English-speaking countries, due to Dutch immigration. Von Heemstra is also quite common in Indonesia, where it is often spelled Vfh-hemstra, due to Dutch influence during colonization in the 18th century.
Variations of the surname Von Heemstra
The origins of the surname Von Heemstra can be traced to the Netherlands and Germany, where it is still commonly used today. Variants of this surname include Van Heemstra, Vanhemstra, and Van Heemst, as well as phonetic variants such as Vaun Humstra, Von Hemstra, Von Heemstrat, and Von Heimstra. The Dutch version of the surname, Van Heemstra, is most commonly used outside of Germany and the Netherlands.
In some cases, the energetic Dutch spelling of Von Heemstra has been translated into other languages, resulting in further variants such as Van Heemster in France and Vanemster in Dutch-speaking Belgium.
Similarly, the German spelling, Von Heimstra or Von Heemstra, can be phonetically transcribed to create variants such as Heimstra, Hemstra, and Heemstrat. In Germany, Von Heemstra is also sometimes spelled Von Hemstra, Heimstrat, or Heemsche. English variations of the surname include Hemster and Hemsterhuis.
Throughout the Netherlands, Von Heemstra may take on extended suffixes, sometimes becoming Van Heemstraat, Van Heemstraate, or Van Heemstraalte. Similarly, in northern Germany, some spellings can be hyphenated, for example Von Heemstra-von Heemstraa.
Although the beginnings of the Von Heemstra surname can be traced back to European origins, many people of this surname have emigrated throughout the world over the centuries, so spellings and variants of Von Heemstra may appear in other countries and cultures.
Famous people with the name Von Heemstra
- Audrey Hepburn, Actress
- Alexander von Heemstra, Historian
- Sebastian von Heemstra, Actor
- Wilhelmina Angela Maria von Heemstra, Tyrannosaurus Development Manager
- Astrid Cornelia Elfrida von Heemstra, Mother of Audrey Hepburn
- Marie Joséphine Charlotte Sophie Amalie Elisabeth von Heemstra, Grandmother of Audrey Hepburn
- Baroness Ella van Heemstra, Grandmother of Audrey Hepburn
- Baron Aarnoud van Heemstra, Grandfather of Audrey Hepburn
- Gertrude Tryntje Eduarda van Heemstra, Great-Grandmother of Audrey Hepburn
- Alfons von Heemstra, Dutch aristocrat who was the namesake for Aurthur Heemstra, a construction worker who was awarded a Medal of Honour during WWII