Surname Van der MERWE - Meaning and Origin
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Van der MERWE: What does the surname Van der MERWE mean?
Van der Merwe is a Dutch Afrikaans surname, originating in the Netherlands but most commonly associated with South Africa after Dutch immigration in the 17th century. The literal translation of "Van der Merwe" from Dutch to English is "from the lake." "Van der" indicates "from the" or "of the," while "Merwe" is believed to refer to a body of water or a geographical feature related to water. Thus, historically, it may have been used to describe a person who lived near or was somehow associated with a lake or water body. The surname is one of the most prevalent across South Africa. Despite its commonality, it is still associated with a degree of prestige due to its connection to early Dutch settlers, who were influential in South Africa's history.
Order DNA origin analysisVan der MERWE: Where does the name Van der MERWE come from?
The last name Van der Merwe is most commonly associated with South Africa and Dutch-speaking countries. It is a Dutch surname that originated from the "Van der," which refers to the family's place of origin, "Merwe" meaning "ocean" or "sea". The last name Van der Merwe is very common in South Africa, where the most significant concentration is found in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces. It is estimated that one in every 250 South Africans have this surname. It is also found to a lesser extent in the Netherlands, Namibia, Belgium, France, Germany, England, South America, and Australia.
Van der Merwe is a very old Dutch surname of noble origin, with the earliest occurrence of the name in recorded form dating back to 1554 in Flanders. The Van der Merwe family is known to have played a significant role in the formation of the United African Republic and were influential in the early stages of South African colonization.
The Van der Merwe family is an extensive and widely spread family, with branches in many countries. The largest and most prominent Van der Merwe population is located in South Africa and the country is home to many prominent Van der Merwe families, including the esteemed Van der Merwe Clan of the Cape whose fierce bravery in battle and support for the Dutch colonies during the Great War earned them many titles of honor.
Despite the large number of Van der Merwe's living around the world, the Dutch-speaking countries are still considered to be the home of most Van der Merwe individuals today. It is estimated that 1 out of every 250 South Africans has the surname Van der Merwe and this gives a sense of the wide reach and influence of the Van der Merwe family in the world today.
Variations of the surname Van der MERWE
The surname Van der Merwe is an Afrikaans surname, meaning "From the Mare", or "From the Mare's Marsh/Swamp". It is derived from the Dutch word "Merwede", which means "Marsh or swamp". There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Van der Merwe.
Variants include Van Dermerwe, Vandermerwe, Merwe, Merwed,Verwer, Verwe, Merweden, Merwede and Merwida.
In South Africa, the surname is primarily associated with descendants of Francois van der Merwe, a Dutch colonial settler who arrived at the Cape of Good Hope in 1677 and is believed to be the progenitor of all the various branches of the family. Other variants may have developed from spelling errors, or by people who changed their name for various reasons.
Spelling variants of the surname include Van de Merwe, Van de Merwede, Vande Merwe, Vande Merwede, Von der Merwe, and von der Merwede.
Surnames from the same origin as Van der Merwe include Vandemerrell, Vandemerri, Vandemerriël, Vandemerric, Vandemerricq, Vandemerrill, and Vandemerryl.
In the United States, the surname has been Anglicized, with some now being known as Vandermorre, Vandemar, Vandamere, and Vandamor.
The Dutch and Afrikaans spelling of the surname are becoming increasingly important, with many descendants proudly adding the 'van' and the 'der' to the spelling of their family name.
Famous people with the name Van der MERWE
- Cut-off Van der Merwe: South African cricketer
- Corli-Marié Van der Merwe: South African rhythmic gymnast
- Charl Van der Merwe: South African footballer
- Derick Van der Merwe: South African rugby union player
- Carel Van Der Merwe: South African actor, writer, producer, director
- Liezel van der Merwe: South African javelin thrower
- Hanri Van Der Merwe: South African singer/songwriter
- Stephanus Van Der Merwe: Dutch water polo player
- Anco Van Der Merwe: Dutch footballer
- Goosen Van der Merwe: Tanzanian artist