Surname Timmerhans - Meaning and Origin
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Timmerhans: What does the surname Timmerhans mean?
Timmerhans is a Dutch occupational surname derived from the Dutch word ‘Timmerman’, meaning ‘carpenter’ or ‘joiner’. It would have been adopted by someone in the Netherlands who was known for his work as a carpenter, joiner, or similar woodworking profession. The name is most common in the Netherlands and Belgium and also appears often in Germany and France.
The name itself is derived from a combination of the words ‘timmer’ and ‘mann’, the latter being a reference to the occupation of being a carpenter or joiner. ‘Timmer’ is derived from the Old Dutch word ‘timbre’ and has the same origin as the English words ‘timber’ and ‘timbered’. This suggests that the profession of being a carpenter or joiner goes back at least as far as the Middle Ages in the Netherlands.
Timmerhans is also a commonly found surname in the United States, especially in areas with large Dutch populations, such as Michigan and New York. The spelling of the surname has been diverted somewhat over the years; in some cases, it appears as Timmermans and in others, the ‘h’ is dropped and it is spelled as ‘Timmerman’. The surname has also been anglicized to ‘Timmerman’ and ‘Timmermanns’.
Overall, the surname Timmerhans suggests the profession of being a carpenter or joiner and is derived from the Middle Dutch words ‘timmer’ and ‘mann’. It is a very common surname in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and the US, with slight variations in spelling.
Order DNA origin analysisTimmerhans: Where does the name Timmerhans come from?
The last name Timmerhans is most common in the Netherlands and its bordering countries. It is first documented in the 14th century, in the Dutch village of Haarlem. To this day, it is still quite popular across the Netherlands, as well as in Belgium and in some parts of Germany.
Timmerhans is not only found in the Netherlands, however. With the expansion of Dutch colonies into the new world, the surname spread to other countries, such as South Africa and the United States. A quick search of the US census statistics shows that the name is quite popular in many parts of the United States, most notably in the Midwest, East Coast, and California regions.
What is interesting to note is that, despite the global spread of the name Timmerhans, most of those who carry the name today still originate from the small villages of the Netherlands. On genealogy sites such as ancestry.com, a large percentage of the search results for the last name Timmerhans are linked to the small villages and towns of the Netherlands, with a few other countries featuring sporadically. Timmerhans is still quite popular in its homeland, despite it ever expanding around the world.
Variations of the surname Timmerhans
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Timmerhans are Timmers, Timmmerhans, Timmermann, Timmerman, Timmermans, Timmerhanssen, Timmerhanser, Timmerhasser, Zimmerer, Zimmermann, Zimmerman, Zimmermans, Zimmers, Zimmerhanssen, Zimmerhanser, Zimmerhasser, Timmerjans, Tymmerhans.
Timmerhans is a Dutch surname used widely in The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Germany and Austria. It is derived from the Dutch word 'timmerman' meaning carpenter and could denote someone in that profession or working in the timber trade.
The variant spellings, such as Timmers, Timmmerhans, Timmerman, Timmerman, Timmermans, Timmerhanssen, Timmerhanser, Timmerhasser, are spelled differently due to regional variations in spelling, handwriting and pronunciation.
Variations of the surname Zimmermann, Zimmerman, Zimmermans, Zimmers, Zimmerhanssen, Zimmerhanser, Zimmerhasser, are derived from the word 'zimerman' and denote someone working in other crafting trades such as masonry and carpentry.
Timmerman is the more common spelling, especially in the Netherlands, but often the spelling may include a hyphen as in Timmer-hans. It is also sometimes modernized to Tymmerhans.
The surname Timmerhans can also be found as a Dutch Jewish (Ashkenazic) name, as the Jewish populations were historically found in the same areas as those of non-Jewish Timmerhans. In this context, the name is likely to have been adapted from the German word 'timmermann', also meaning carpenter.
Famous people with the name Timmerhans
- Georgina Timmerhans: Dutch producer and body-paint artist, associated with the Dutch music show 'Lust for Life'
- Karin Timmerhans: television presenter and columnist for Dutch magazine 'Viva'
- Jenny Timmerhans: Dutch female field hockey player
- Paul Timmerhans: Dutch field hockey player
- Bart Timmerhans: Dutch speed skater
- Annie Timmerhans: Dutch Paralympic athlete
- Jan Timmerhans: Dutch mountain biker
- Cokkie Timmerhans: Dutch singer and keyboard player
- Maurice Timmerhans: Dutch painter
- Anna Timmerhans: Dutch drawer and graphic designer