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A Few Words About Dutch Surnames

Because They Tend to Run to Many Syllables

By , About.com Guide

  • de, der and den = "the"

  • ter and ten = "at the"

  • van de, van den, van der, van't and ver = "from the"

  • Names ending in s, en, or ens show possession.

  • A name ending in "z." (note the period) has been abbreviated from "zoon" ("son").

      Examples:
      "Claesz." = "Claeszoon" = "Nicholas' son"
      "Harmensz." = "Harmenszoon" = "Herman's son"
      "Pietersz." = "Pieterszoon" = "Peter's son"

    The list of Dutch Baroque artists, in particular, is alphabetized by the last name in an often l-e-n-g-t-h-y surname.

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