Surname Verstraate - Meaning and Origin
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Verstraate: What does the surname Verstraate mean?
The last name Verstraate is Dutch in origin and derived from the Dutch word "verstraat" meaning a road or street. The name is an occupational surname, likely derived from occupations such as city gatekeeper or guard, road surveyor or builder.
Verstraate has likely been used as a surname since the Middle Ages when most people were identified by what they did such as the blacksmith in the village or the miller at the river. In many cases, the surname Verstraate could quite possibly have been referring to someone responsible for the road and streetways in a particular area or someone in charge of building or running a toll gate. Other related occupations that could have originated the surname include cartiers, driver, turnpike-taker or street-cleaner.
The surname Verstraate can be found all over Europe in countries such as, Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. It is still a relatively uncommon surname today, but can also be found more often in countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United States where Dutch immigrants have settled.
The Verstraate surname can be found with variant spellings such as Verstraten, Vertstraeten, Verstraeten, Verstreaten, and Verstegen, all of which are related to the original surname, Verstraate.
Order DNA origin analysisVerstraate: Where does the name Verstraate come from?
The Verstraate surname is common in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, and the United States. The exact origin of the Verstraate name is uncertain, but it is likely of Dutch origin. The earliest record of the name has been traced to Geertruyt Verstraate, who married Willem Verstraate in Zuid Beveland in the Netherlands in 1585.
The Netherlands is still the most populous region for Verstraate today. This is likely due to the large Dutch diaspora in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as many people emigrated to other countries to seek work and a better life. Many of these individuals kept the Verstraate surname even after settling in foreign countries.
Neighbouring Germany is the second most popular region for the Verstraate surname today. However, the family has likely been present in the country for centuries. Records of Verstraates in Germany can be found as early as the 16th century, when several Verstraate families were recorded in the Dutch archives.
Because of its commonality in the Netherlands and Germany, the Verstraate surname can also be found in other European countries such as Belgium and Denmark. It is also found in the United States, though the number of individuals with this name is far lower.
Variations of the surname Verstraate
Verstraate is a Dutch surname meaning "dweller of the Straat". It is sometimes known to have evolved from the Dutch spelling of a common Germanic language, hence its spelling.
The most common variant of Verstraate is Verstraeten, which is derived from the previous mentioned Dutch spelling. It is the most widely-used variant of the original Dutch spelling. Variants of Verstraete also include Verstraaten, Verstraat, Verstraete, Verstraet, Verstraatt, Verstraats, and others. In the English language, the surname is sometimes spelled as Verstrate, Verstrat, Verstraat, and Verstratte.
Due to the use of the Germanic language, the surname is known to have multiple spellings and variants. While the two most common spellings are Verstraate and Verstraeten, there are many other surnames of the same origin, including Verschraeten, Verschraewen, Verschrote, Verschraen, Verstraeyen, Verscheren, Verschero, Verstraken, Verschreken, Verschredden, Verstraelen, Verstraer, Verschreur, Verstraerken, Verschreck, Verstraeren, Verschreven, Verstraers, and Verschraeven.
In addition, there are other surnames closely related to the Verstraate surname that have similar origins. These include Verstraete-rooij, Verstraete-Janssens, Verstraete-Peeters, Verstraete-Van Oosten, Verstraete-Rovers, Verstraete-van de Kolk, Verstraete-Beekhuizen, Verstraete-Lens, Verstraete-Molenaar, Verstraete-Vos, Verschraete-Van La Rubbrecht, and other derivatives.
Famous people with the name Verstraate
- Marijke Verstraate: Dutch provincial councilor from Groningen, specializing in regional development and environmental issues.
- Arend Jan Verstraate: Dutch sculptor, known for his figurative marble and bronze sculptures.
- Bart Verstraate: Dutch football manager and former player.
- Kristian Verstraate: Dutch violinist and composer.
- Theodore Verstraate: South African cricketer.
- Ernest Verstraate: Dutch professional ice hockey player.
- Wilma Verstraate: Dutch Surinamese TV presenter and businesswoman.
- Karel Verstraate: Dutch footballer.
- Bep Verstraate: Dutch theater producer. 10.George Verstraate: Dutch civil servant and politician. 11.George Verstraate Jr.: Dutch entrepreneur and philanthropist. 12.Karen Verstraate: Dutch dancer. 13.Laurens Verstraate: Dutch professional field hockey player. 14.Mattijs Verstraate: Dutch engineer and business consultant. 15.Michel Verstraate: Dutch politician and Freemason. 16.Myles Verstraate: Dutch artist, known for his surrealist paintings. 17.Peter Verstraate: Dutch jazz drummer and producer. 18.Robbert Verstraate: Dutch amateur cyclist. 19.Teun Verstraate: Dutch international rugby union player. 20.Suzan Verstraate: Dutch television presenter and voice actor.