Surname TenEyck - Meaning and Origin

TenEyck: What does the surname TenEyck mean?

The surname TenEyck is of Dutch origin and has been traced back to early settlers in New York during the 17th century. The name is derived from "Ten Eyck," which in Dutch means "at the oak." It is a topographic name that was originally used to denote someone who lived near a prominent oak tree. Over time, it became a hereditary surname. Dutch naming traditions often reflected geographic locations or occupations. Therefore, the original bearers of the TenEyck name likely lived near an oak tree or a property marked by an oak. Despite its origin, the surname is now found in various parts of the world, typically amongst descendants of Dutch immigrants.

TenEyck: Where does the name TenEyck come from?

The last name TenEyck is found mostly in the United States today, but its lineage stretches back to pre-Renaissance Europe. TenEyck is Dutch, and has roots in shed building and fishing traps in parts of the Netherlands.

Surnames first started to be used in the Netherlands in the 1300s, when families needed to be identified. It is believed that TenEyck may have derived from the Dutch word “Ten” which means “Dike” or “Ditch” and “Eyck” which means “Oak.” This could have referred to an area where families lived for generations, surrounded by an oak grove near a dike.

The TenEyck family migrated to the United States near the end of the 17th century, with the earliest known record appearing in 1712 in Pennsylvania. By the 1800s, TenEyck’s could be found mostly in the northeast, particularly in the states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They were members of the Dutch Reformed Church, a Protestant denomination in the Netherlands.

Today, TenEyck families have spread throughout the United States, with some members residing in other parts of the world. It is estimated that there are approximately 10,400 people in the US bearing the TenEyck surname.

Variations of the surname TenEyck

TenEyck is an uncommon surname of Dutch origin. It is a patronymic name meaning “son of Ten”, derived from a short form of the given name Thijs, a variant of the personal name Matthias. Variant spellings and surnames of the same origin include:

TenEyck: TenEyck, TenEijk, TenEijck, TenEeck, TenEecke, TenEyk.

Thijssen: Thijssen, Theyssen, Thijsen, Teijssen, Teijsen, Theysen, Tesselaar, Teseliair.

Matthias: Matthias, Matthijsen, Matthiessen, Mattheussen, Matheusses, Matheussen, Mattheessen, Mathisen, Matthiessen, Mathiessen, Machielsen, Machuelsen.

Other derivative surnames derived from TenEyck include: Tackes, Tenhagen, Ten Have, Ten Hoff, TenHoove, TenKate, TenKley, TenNapel, Ten Pas, TenPas, TenPelt, TenVeen, and TenWolde.

Although the variations of the spelling of TenEyck, Thijssen and Matthias are quite distinct from one another, all three surnames are of the same origin and share a common ancestor. As Dutch surnames, they can be found across various Dutch-speaking countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, and Dutch settlements in parts of North America and South Africa.

Famous people with the name TenEyck

• Margaretta TenEyck: Award-winning writer and playwright of Pulitzer Prize-nominated play Glory Days.
• Washburn TenEyck: Former New York State senate leader and U.S. Congress member.
• Peter TenEyck: American photographer and artist since the 1970s whose work has focused on themes of mysticism and the supernatural.
• Wilbur TenEyck: Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who wrote several collections of verse including, The East End.
• Nicholas TenEyck: Carver who worked at the Brooklyn Museum in the early 20th century and is known for his carvings of Native American scenes.
• William TenEyck: American seafarer who played an important role in the American Revolutionary War.
• Vincent TenEyck: Dutch architect and furniture designer of the early 20th century with a focus on Art Deco and Modernist designs.
• John TenEyck: Hollywood actor who has appeared in various films and television series including Death Note 2 and NCIS.
• Mary TenEyck: Pianist, composer, and educator who has been on the faculty of the Royal College of Music in London for many years.
• Veronica TenEyck: Celebrity make-up artist who has worked with many famous actors and actresses.

Other surnames

TeneyTeneyke