100 Popular Dutch Last Names
Dutch last names have a strong history written into the culture, geography, and social structure of the country.
From the patronymics indicating family lineage to the surnames based on profession, location, and attributes, these names provide a fascinating opportunity to look back into the past.
They tell a historic and cultural tale; be it for the genealogist or the teeming curiosity about the Dutch naming conventions, these surnames are a bonanza of knowledge.
Come! Let us explore Dutch last names and see what tells us about the people and places that changed them.
Dutch last names
Jansen – Son of Jan (John).
De Vries – “The Frisian,” referring to someone from Friesland.
Bakker – Baker, a profession.
Visser – Fisherman, a profession.
Smit – Smith, referring to a blacksmith.
Koster – Sacristan or churchwarden, a church official.
Dekker – Roofer, someone who works with roofs.
Molenaar – Miller, someone who works in a mill.
Hendriks – Son of Hendrik.
Peeters – Son of Peter.
Verbeek – From the brook or stream.
Willems – Son of Willem (William).
Meijer – Steward or farm manager.
Van der Meer – From the lake or sea.
Groen – Green, referring to someone living near a green area or field.
Van den Berg – From the mountain or hill.
Schouten – Bailiff, a title for an official in charge of a village.
Van Dijk – From the dike (a type of embankment).
Bosch – Forest, referring to someone living near a forest.
Stam – Tribe or family line.
Verhoeven – From the higher ground or hill.
De Jong – The young one, often referring to the younger member of a family.
Veenstra – From the peat bog or marsh.
Timmerman – Carpenter, a profession.
Van der Laan – From the lane or road.
Kruis – Cross, potentially referring to a religious or geographical feature.
De Groot – The large or great, referring to size or importance.
Van Leeuwen – From the lions, symbolizing strength.
Vandermolen – From the mill.
Linders – Derived from “linde,” meaning lime tree, symbolizing a connection to nature.
Ruiter – Rider, referring to someone who worked with horses.
Boersma – Farmer’s son.
Van Houten – From the wooden area or forest.
Van Wijk – From the district or neighborhood.
Stevens – Son of Steven.
Boven – Above or higher, possibly referring to a higher position or location.
Van der Wal – From the wall (a protective structure).
Huisman – Houseman, someone who works around the house or in domestic service.
Peters – Son of Peter.
Hoekstra – From the corner or angle.
Dijkstra – A common surname from the northern provinces of the Netherlands, meaning “from the dyke.”
Schaap – Sheep, perhaps referring to someone who worked with sheep.
Van Es – From the ash tree.
Brouwer – Brewer, a profession.
Koning – King, a title or someone who was thought to have royal traits.
Van Pelt – From the field, referring to an area of cultivated land.
Van Zanten – From the sand dunes.
Huis – House, someone living in or associated with a house or building.
Lammers – Derived from the given name Lambert, or could refer to a lamb (animal).
Rijks – Royal or of the state, indicating someone who was associated with royal service.
Van der Wal – From the wall, possibly referring to a fortification or protective barrier.
Klein – Small, possibly describing a smaller or younger person.
Haan – Rooster, symbolizing vitality or a connection to farming.
Bos – Forest, referring to someone living near or in a forest.
Van der Poel – From the pool (a water feature or pond).
Lammers – Derived from the name Lambert, or a reference to a lamb.
Vink – Finch, a type of bird.
Van der Horst – From the hill, referring to a higher location.
Wouters – Son of Wouter (Walter).
Teunissen – Son of Teunis (Anthony).
Brouwer – Brewer, a profession associated with brewing beer.
Wessels – Son of Wessel, a personal name.
Van der Linden – From the lime tree, symbolizing nature or a connection to trees.
Vermeulen – From the mill, another reference to mill workers.
Aarts – A variant of “art,” meaning noble or of high rank.
Zwart – Black, possibly referring to someone’s appearance or hair color.
Van de Water – From the water, a common surname indicating a connection to a river or body of water.
Scheltema – Derived from “schel,” meaning shell, or “tema,” meaning theme.
Van Dam – From the dam, referring to a person living near or working with a dam.
Dijksterhuis – From the dike house, referring to homes near or built on a dike.
Lange – Long, possibly describing a tall person.
Slager – Butcher, a profession.
Groenendijk – Green dike, referring to the landscape of a green embankment.
Koopman – Merchant or tradesman.
Van de Velde – From the field, referring to an open area of land.
Hofman – Farm or courtman, someone working on a farm or associated with a noble court.
Knol – Horse, a reference to a strong, reliable animal or someone involved with horses.
Van Lier – From the lyre, a reference to music or poetic imagery.
Rademaker – Wheel maker, referring to someone who worked with wheels, like a wheelwright.
Kramer – Shopkeeper or merchant.
Roth – Red, possibly referring to red hair or a ruddy complexion.
Verschuren – From the farm, possibly related to someone who lived or worked on a farm.
Rijsdijk – Rice dike, referring to an area used for rice farming or cultivation.
De Boer – The farmer, referring to a person engaged in farming.
Fokker – A person who breeds animals, especially horses or cattle.
Vlaanderen – From Flanders, a region historically associated with the Netherlands and Belgium.
Heijman – Derived from “heide,” meaning heath, referring to someone who lived on heathland.
Ploeg – Plow, a tool for farming.
Rijn – Rhine, referring to the river, one of Europe’s major rivers.
Uittenbogaard – From the orchard, referring to someone who lived near or worked in an orchard.
Poort – Gate, likely referring to someone who lived near or worked at a gate.
Vosters – Derived from a personal name, possibly meaning “forester.”
Boon – Bean, likely referring to a person who worked with beans or in agriculture.
De Wit – The white, possibly referring to light hair or fair skin.
Schipper – Skipper, or boatman, someone who operated a ship or boat.
Vossen – Fox, a surname likely given to someone with characteristics of a fox (clever or fast).
Teun – A shortened form of the name Antonius (Anthony).
Snoek – Pike (the fish), possibly referring to someone associated with fishing.
Van der Klugt – From the hill or cliff, referring to a geographical feature.
Stolp – Threshing barn, an area used for agricultural purposes.
