Surname Verbrugge - Meaning and Origin

Verbrugge: What does the surname Verbrugge mean?

The last name Verbrugge is thought to be of Dutch origin, derived from the Dutch words ‘ver’ meaning ‘over’ or ‘across’ and ‘brugge’ meaning ‘bridge’. It is assumed to be an occupational name, likely originating with someone who worked constructing, repairing, or maintaining bridges.

In some cases, the name’s original spelling could include a variation of the prefixes, such as ‘ver’ or ‘van’. The name is common in Holland, as well as Belgium and America where it has seen a spike in popularity.

In the modern day, the name Verbrugge is a popular surname among a variety of families. It symbolizes multiple forms of knowledge, responsibility and reliability. It’s a name for those who take an active part in providing help, sustained support and necessary skill to a wider network of people.

The surname Verbrugge is a reminder of the long history of occupation-based naming, and a potential symbol of someone who was of great help to others with their bridge-related skills and expertise. It has come to represent: a helpful, reliable, trustworthy and responsible individual, ideas that remain true and relevant today.

Verbrugge: Where does the name Verbrugge come from?

The last name Verbrugge is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. It is a Dutch surname that is derived from the old Dutch words “ver” meaning ‘fork’ and “brugge” meaning ‘bridge’. It is thought that the name originated from someone who lived near a bridge with a fork shaped river running through it.

The name can also be found elsewhere around the world, particularly in Germany and Belgium. It is slightly more popular in Belgium than it is in the Netherlands. As of 2019, it is reported that there were roughly 14,400 people with the last name Verbrugge living in the Netherlands, 8,200 in Germany, and 4,000 in Belgium.

Outside of Europe, smaller concentrations of people with the last name Verbrugge can be found in South Africa, Canada, Australia, and the United States of America. In the United States, an estimated 1,554 people bear the last name as of 2019. This makes it the 137th most common surname in the country, particularly concentrated in the states of Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan.

The surname Verbrugge is believed to have been popularized in the United States due to large numbers of Dutch immigrants who settled in the Midwest in the 19th century. As the family name spread across the globe, it has taken on a number of spellings such as Verburg, Verbruggen, Verbrugge, Verbrugghe, and Verbruggen among others.

Variations of the surname Verbrugge

Verbrugge is a Dutch patronymic surname derived from the given name Verbruggen. It is a common variant of the Verbruggen surname, which is much more widely found in the Netherlands. There are several other variant spellings of Verbrugge, including Verbruggen, Verbrugghe, Verbrug, Vervoort, Verbrugue, and Verbrougghe. These variants mostly stem from Flanders and Zeeland, two provinces in the Netherlands.

Verbruggen and Verbrugge are the two most common spellings of the surname among Dutch-speaking families. Verbruggen is by far the most popular variant, and it can also be found in Belgium. The Verbrugge spelling is most commonly found among Dutch immigrants to the United States.

In the United States, several alternate spellings have developed over time, including Vervoorst, Vervoordt, Verboordt, and Vervoerdt. These spellings were likely influenced by the phonetics of the American English language.

The surnames of other countries that are of the same origin as Verbrugge include Verborgh (Belgium), Verbruggen (Netherlands), and Vervoort (Flanders). All of these surnames are derived from the given name Verbruggen and have evolved over time due to different phonetic nuances and cultural influences.

Famous people with the name Verbrugge

• Remco Verbrugge: Remco Verbrugge is a Dutch field hockey striker. He played for the Dutch national squad since 2013 and participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, where he won a bronze medal.
• Maarten Verbrugge: Maarten Verbrugge is a professor at the University of Twente, the Netherlands. He holds the Watson-Ledden Chair of the Department of Technology Management, specializing in operations research.
• Harm Verbrugge: Harm Verbrugge is a Dutch football coach and retired professional player. He worked as head coach for amateur teams FC Lienden, SDV Barneveld and Olympia, and as an assistant coach at De Graafschap.
• Gamaliël Verbrugge: Gamaliël Verbrugge is a Dutch professional cyclist, who has had a long career in international cycling. He won the gold medal in the 2008 Dutch national championships and was part of the Dutch team that won the gold medal in the Under-23 Time Trial in the 2011 UCI Road World Championships.
• Esse Verbrugge: Esse Verbrugge is a Dutch former professional footballer who played for Dutch Eredivisie clubs NAC Breda and FC Utrecht.
• Chris Verbrugge: Chris Verbrugge is a Dutch former professional footballer who spent his career at Dutch Serie A and Dutch Eredivisie clubs such as FC Groningen and FC Den Bosch.
• Susan Verbrugge: Susan Verbrugge is a Dutch former professional tennis player. She reached a career-high singles ranking of 54 in the world in the late '80s. She won two WTA Tour singles titles and six doubles titles.
• Jozef Verbrugge: Jozef Verbrugge is a Belgian former professional football player who spent his career at Dutch Eerste Divisie and BelgianFL clubs such as FC Dender and Germinal Beerschot.
• Steph Verbrugge: Steph Verbrugge is a Belgian football coach and former professional player who currently works as a youth coach for Royal Antwerp in Belgium.

Other surnames

VerbruggenVerbrüggen