Surname van Laere - Meaning and Origin

van Laere: What does the surname van Laere mean?

The surname "van Laere" is of Dutch origin and is a topographic name, indicating a geographical location or feature related to an individual's residence. "van" is a Dutch preposition that means "from". "Laere" could potentially refer to an old or obsolete name of a particular region, town, or village in the Netherlands or Belgium. However, without specific historical or regional context, the exact meaning of "Laere" is challenging to decipher accurately. Many European surnames developed in this manner, relating to places, professions, or personal characteristics, and helped distinguish between individuals with common first names in smaller communities. Therefore, "Van Laere" can be loosely interpreted as "from Laere". It's also important to note that different families with this surname might not share the same ancestry due to the common practice of adopting place names as surnames.

van Laere: Where does the name van Laere come from?

The last name van Laere is most commonly found among people living in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is among the most popular Dutch surnames, and is particularly common in West Flanders, Antwerp and Limburg, especially in the provinces of East-Flanders, Flemish-Brabant and Limburg.

Traditionally, the name consists of two parts - a patronymic 'van', meaning 'from' or 'of', and a reference to a locality, 'Laere'. This indicates that the family originated from a small town named Laere. The town is located in the Belgian province of West-Flanders, near the city of Kortrijk.

The family is likely of Flemish origin, and they may have had roots in other countries, including France, England and the Netherlands. The name van Laere is also found among people of other nationalities, such as Americans, Canadians, Australians and South Africans, who may have had ancestors who migrated from Europe.

This surname has changed over the years (for example, 'Laere' may have been changed to 'Lier' in some cases). Today, there are over 3,000 people bearing the van Laere name in Belgium, with about 3,500 people in the Netherlands.

Variations of the surname van Laere

Van Laere is a Dutch patronymic surname derived from 'Laer', meaning an open field or clearing. This surname has many variant spellings, including Vanlaeres, Van Laar, van Laarhoven, Vanlaeer, Van Laeer, Vanlaaer, Van Laeers, Van Laare and van Laar (making it the most common spelling). Surnames with the same origin include Van Laer, Laeremans, Laerle, Laeren, and Laering.

Van Laere frequently appears as a multi-generation family name in modern-day Holland and Belgium. It is renown for being a very ancient name that is found in old documents from the 17th century. In the cultural records of the Netherlands and Flanders, it is one of the most common surnames in the region.

Those with the same origin and different spellings of this surname may see a connection with one another, linking them to their shared root of ‘Laer’ despite different spellings and their respective roles in different branches of the same family. As such, these variants are deeply intertwined with one another and with their family's history.

In terms of where this surname is now found, it is primarily found in Flanders and the Dutch province of Zeeland. As a result, people with this name may connect to this shared geographical connection. They may also share similar cultural traits from their past, bringing them together and building a strong sense of family connection.

Famous people with the name van Laere

• Johannes Petrus van Laere (1844-1926), a Dutch composer
• Marinus van Laere (1921-2006), a Dutch bishop
• Johannes van Laere (1880-1945), a Dutch Catholic missionary
• Karen van Laere (born 1953), an Australian historian and social science professor
• Guido van Laere (born 1957), a Belgian journalist and news photographer
• Norma van Laere (born 1962), a Belgian art collector
• Andre van Laere (born 1966), a Belgian theatre director
• Bob van Laere (born 1973), a Dutch professional football goalkeeper
• Bart van Laere (born 1973), a Belgian Christian pastor
• Yannick van Laere (born 1988), a Belgian professional football midfielder
• Kristien van Laere (born 1997), a Belgian professional football player
• Jan van Laere (1904-1986), a Dutch microbiologist and professor

Other surnames

van Laer

Comments or additions to the name "van Laere"

02.07.2024
Richard Van Laere (born 1946) - an American professional mechanical engineer and civil law attorney.