How The Dutch Got Their Funny Names
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How The Dutch Got Their Funny Names
Submitted by Khalid on Sat, 2006/07/29 - 09:49Several years ago, a Dutch friend told me that some Dutch have funny names.
It turns out that this is a story worth telling, possibly repeated in Algeria, with the French playing a part in both.
Many Dutch names are of the form:
van ("of/from"), de/het/'t ("the"), der ("of the"), van de ("of the/from the"), and in het ("in the") or simply de ("the"). All but the latter denote a place of origin or residence, and the latter an occupation or attribute.
In 1811, the French under Napoleon occupied the Netherlands. They started having a census for the purpose of taxation, and forced everyone to have a family name, which was not a common practice for the Dutch.
The Dutch thought this would be a temporary measure, and took on comical or offensive sounding names as a practical joke on their French occupiers.
Some examples are:
- Suikerbuik (Sugarbelly)
- Spring in t Veld (Jump in the Field)
- Uiekruier (Onion-crier)
- Naaktgeboren (Born naked)
- Poepjes (Little shit)
- Schooier (Beggar)
- Scheefnek (Crooked-neck)
- Rotmensen (Rotten people)
- Zeldenthuis (Rarely at home)
- Zondervan (without a surname)
- Borst (breast)
- Piest (to urinate)
I can imagine the Dutch standing in line to register and having a few laughs at the expense of the French officials, only to have the name stick to them and their descendants for centuries.
There were also some names that are not demeaning, rather aggrandazing
- De Groot (The Great, The Large One)
- Den Beste (The Best)
Similarly, some were just attributes
- De Jonge (The younger)
Perhaps a similar thing happened in Algeria after the 1830 invasion by France, where lots of names are demeaning attributes.
Resources
- Wikipedia on Dutch names.
- Wikipedia Family name, Dutch section.
- Origin of the Reinders family name.
»
Dutch names
Other names are:
Napoleon wanted to set up population registers for tax purposes and to know where the young boys lived who could be drafted into his armies. And he couldn't do that without a fixed name.
These population registers are still there. Each time a Dutchman or woman moves to another town they have to check in and check out. I was threatened with a fine once in Malaysia because I had forgotten to register with the embassy.
One of the main functions of resistance forces during the Second World War was to blow up population registers, for obvious reasons. All the Germans had to do was look in the register and they knew where everybody lived.
To date there is no national identity card in Holland. There is a lot of resistance against that mainly due to the above reason. Unlike Belgium and France where people are obliged to carry ID (passport) with them all the time.
Changing one of these idiotic surnames is almost impossible in Holland. Only the queen can approve a name change and there must be compelling circumstances for her to do so.
This in contrast to countries like Australia where immigrant with impossible names (names like Peereboom, pronounced piribum and meaning "pear tree") can change their name quite easily.
My favorite is "Gekkehuis"
My favorite is "Gekkehuis" (lit. "Crazy House" but more accurately "loony bin"). This was the last name of a coworker when I lived in Holland.
Quite Common
The surname Niemand is quite common in South Africa, meaning "Nobody".
I know one
I think i know this Mr Gekkehuis, he has a nickname, sinfull I believe. great site, i'd like to thamk-you for the info, it will come in handy!. merry xmas & happy new year.
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