Surname Pietersen - Meaning and Origin
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Pietersen: What does the surname Pietersen mean?
The last name Pietersen is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the given name "Pieter", a form of the name Peter. As a surname, Pietersen refers to the son or descendant of a man named Peter. The prefix "-sen", is typical of surnames originating in certain regions of Europe, and translates as "son of". Pietersens can be found mainly in the Netherlands and its former colonial territories, such as the United States, South Africa, India, and the Dutch East Indies.
In the Netherlands, Pietersen is a popular and common name, and is often associated with the Dutch royal family. King Willem-Alexander is a Pieters, descendant of Governor-General Wynand Pieter Hendrik Arnold, who was born in Voorburg in 1804. Consequently, many Dutch people with the surname Pietersen are related to the royal family.
Historically, the Pietersens were mainly farmers and small landowners. However, since the 16th century, the family has produced several entrepreneurs, and during the 20th century, many Pietersens achieved success in fields such as medicine, engineering, and public service. A well-known example is Peter Pieterson van Subuur, Dutch minister for Finance from 1962-1965, and Prime Minister from 1965-1966.
Overall, the Pietersen surname represents a family with Dutch roots that has achieved success in many different fields. It stands for the spirit of ambition, creativity, and determination.
Order DNA origin analysisPietersen: Where does the name Pietersen come from?
The last name Pietersen is most commonly found in South Africa. It is primarily a Afrikaans last name, with some Dutch influence. It is also seen in other African countries such as Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia. In all these countries, it is one of the most common surnames.
The origin of the last name Pietersen is linked to Dutch settlers who first arrived in South Africa in the 17th century. The Dutch were known as "Vryburgers" (free citizens) who settled in the area as they were trying to escape religious persecution in Europe. As these settlers became established, many of their names were anglicised.
Pietersen is a fairly common last name today, especially amongst Afrikaners. According to the Genealogical Institute of South Africa, it is believed to have originated from the God-given Christian name of Pieter Adolf (which is the Dutch variant of Peter). The prevalence of the surname is such that there are prominent South Africans that have the last name Pietersen, such as theologian Gerrie Pietersen and politician Pieter-Dirk Uys.
Furthermore, the last name is also found in the United States, where thousands of Afrikaner immigrants have emigrated since the 1980s. Thus, while originally common in South Africa, Pietersen is now also found in many countries, particularly those with Dutch colonies or with a recent influx of South African immigrants.
Variations of the surname Pietersen
The surname Pietersen is of Dutch origin and is mostly found in the Netherlands and South Africa. Variations of this name include: Pieters, Pettersen, Pietersma, Pieterse, Petersen, Peterse, Piterse, Peters, Petersen, Pettersson, Petersson, Pettersson, Pietersz, Pieterszen, Pietersen, Peterszoon and Pieterzoon.
In the Netherlands, the traditional spelling of Pietersen is Pieterson or Pieterson. This spelling was used in Holland until the 19th century, when the spelling was changed to Pietersen. The Pettersen spelling belongs to Norway. It is derived from Petter which is the Norwegian variant of Peter.
The Pieterse and Peterse spellings are variants of the Dutch Pieter which is the Low German form of the name Peter.
The Petersen spelling is derived from the Danish or North German form of Peter.
The Pietersz, Pieterszen, Peterszoon and Pieterzoon spellings are from the Dutch language by adding a suffix to the name Peter meaning ‘son of’.
The surnames Peters and Pettersson are derived from the German and Scandinavian forms of Peter.
In South Africa, the main spelling of Pietersen is still Pietersen. In the late 19th century, many Dutch immigrants changed their surname to suit the region they settled in, taking on an English last name.
The name Pietersen is still a very common surname across the Netherlands and South Africa. It is also found throughout Europe in regions where many Dutch immigrants settled in the past centuries.
Famous people with the name Pietersen
- Kevin Pietersen: Former English cricketer and a current T20I and ODI World X1 cricketer.
- Peter Pietersen: Manager of the United States Soccer Federation.
- Bert Pietersen: Former footballer and manager of FC Dordrecht and FC Utrecht.
- Dirk Pietersen: Former professional rugby union player and current coach of the South African national rugby union team.
- Arthur Pietersen: Dutch architect and designer of public buildings, churches, and cemeteries.
- Paul Pietersen: South African politician and current leader of the Democratic Alliance.
- Janine Pietersen: South African environmentalist, television personality, and current chair of the South African Wildlife Foundation.
- Jellie Pietersen: Dutch gymnast and seven time Dutch national champion.
- Herman Pietersen: Dutch architect and designer of churches.
- Stephan Pietersen: South African television presenter and radio host.