Surname Theys - Meaning and Origin
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Theys: What does the surname Theys mean?
The last name Theys is of Dutch origin and has several possible meanings. One theory suggests that it is an occupational surname related to weaving, as Theys is a nickname for Teresa. This nickname was derived from the former female name Thyskin, which also meant ‘weaver’. Alternatively, it could be derived from the Dutch word for ‘thing’, which in certain dialects could refer to an assembly or gathering, possibly indicating a family who lived near a public gathering place.
The surname Theys could also have emerged as a patronymic form of the name Matheys, or Matheus, which were early versions of the name Matthew. The name Matthew is derived from the Hebrew name ‘Mattathiah’ which translates to ‘gift of God’. This could have been used by families to signify a belief that their children were a gift from God.
Theys is a common surname among Dutch-speaking populations, from Holland and Germany in particular, where it is most prominent. It is also occasionally found in the United States, Australia, and elsewhere in Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisTheys: Where does the name Theys come from?
Theys is a common French surname. It is most evident today in the French speaking region of Brussels where it is among the top 200 surnames. It is also notably popular in the French administrative region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais. There are also a considerable number of Theys families living in the French departments of Haute-Normandie and Pays de la Loire, as well as in some southernmost departments of France.
Theys is an old French surname that goes back to medieval times, where it was mentioned as a name for an innkeeper. Later on, it became a surname used by people who were occupiers of a public office or carried out some official tasks. Today, it is still mostly used in France, but it is also found in regions of Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
Theys has also spread to some other parts of the world, such as Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Even though the exact number of people with the surname is not very well known, the name is still considered to be a common surname around the globe.
Variations of the surname Theys
Theys is a surname of European origin. The most common variants of this surname include Theiss, Teiss, Tess, Tees, and Teyss.
Theys is derived from the old Germanic personal name Theudo- or Theodo, meaning “tribe, people”. In some parts of Europe, the name was Anglicized as Thies, Thys, Thais and Tys. The base form of this surname is often found as Theiß, Teiß, Thiß, Thiess and Teyss.
In parts of Switzerland, the name has become Teuscher or Teuschel. In English-speaking countries, the variant Dees has been adopted. In Flanders, it sometimes appears as Thijs or Thys.
In Italy, the spelling of the name is Tisi, while in Hungary it can be found as Tézsi or Tézs and in Poland as Tyss or Tis. In Germany, the variant Thiel can also be encountered.
This surname often appears with political affiliations, as well as Dutch, German and French variations. Possible origins of the name range from the probability of a pre-seventeenth century farmer, to a Slavic illiterate who adopted the name due to a typographical error or misunderstanding of a language.
Famous people with the name Theys
- Frank Theys, a Belgian artist famous for his experimental films
- Daphné Theys, a Belgian actress, model and performance artist
- Bart Theys, a Dutch actor
- Hendrik-Jan Theys, a Dutch sailing athlete
- Franky Theys, a Belgian footballer
- René Theys, a Belgian film director
- Gilles Theys, a Belgian film editor, editor and screenwriter
- Koen Theys, a Belgian composer and conductor
- Jan Theys, a Dutch actor
- Laura Theys, a Belgian cyclist
- Michael Theys, an American professional wrestler
- Bart Theys, a Dutch cyclist
- Louis Theys, a Dutch sculptor
- Bart Theys, a Belgian artist
- Nicolette Theys, an Austrian artist
- Maarten Theys, a Belgian architect
- Anna Theys, a Dutch television director