Surname van Leijen - Meaning and Origin
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van Leijen: What does the surname van Leijen mean?
The last name van Leijen is a Dutch topographic surname derived from the locations 'Leijen' or 'Leijen tot Simonswaard' in the Dutch provinces of Utrecht and North Holland. This surname originated in the middle ages and was first seen in records dating from the late 1500s.
In Dutch the word leijen commonly designates flatland along the coast of the Netherlands, and can also refer to a wetland or a low-lying area of land near a river. The preposition 'van' indicates that an individual originates from a particular place. Thus, van Leijen can be interpreted to mean an individual from the place designation 'Leijen'.
The surname van Leijen is shared by numerous Dutch individuals today, many of whom do not live in the place of origin. The number of individuals globally recorded with this surname is in the hundreds, although it is quite uncommon outside of parts of the Netherlands.
Van Leijen is fascinating in that it is both a topographic and a locative surname, in that it connects individuals to their geographical origin and ancestry. It is also an example of surnames which keep a traditional Dutch form, rather than being converted to a more modern family name.
Order DNA origin analysisvan Leijen: Where does the name van Leijen come from?
The surname van Leijen is commonly found today in the Netherlands, where it originated centuries ago. It is one of the most common surnames and has been found in records as early as the 13th century. Many members of the van Leijen family have held notable positions in the Dutch government. The surname is also found in Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, United States, Canada, and Brazil.
In the Netherlands, van Leijen is one of the most frequent surnames, with more than 30,000 people bearing the name. It is particularly common in the provinces of Flevoland and Gelderland. The surname is most likely derived from a location in the Netherlands, indicating that the van Leijen family may have originated from one of these regions.
In the United States, van Leijen is still relatively common, though it is found less frequently than in the Netherlands. Research has found that the name is most common in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.
In Canada, the name is slightly more frequent, though it is still not overly common. It is most commonly found in the province of Quebec. In Australia, the name is fairly common and can be found in most major cities.
The van Leijen surname is still quite prevalent today, with various members of the family living in many countries. The origins of the name is likely to have been derived from a location in the Netherlands and over the centuries has spread to many other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname van Leijen
Van Leijen is a Dutch surname, which originated from the combination of the two separate earlier surnames of Van and Leijen. The name is thought to have first appeared in the 13th century.
Van Leijen has several possible derivations, including ‘from the lion’ or possibly from the Old Dutch word ‘lijen’, meaning ‘to love’.
Van Leijen may be spelt in various ways, including van Leijen, van Leijenhorst, van Leeijen and van Leeijenhorst. Depending on which spelling is used, the name can also take the form of Van Leyen, Van leyenhorst, Van Campbell, Van Leven, and Van Leeven.
The Van Leijen surname may also be found in surnames of German or English origin, such as von Lienen or Lienenhaus.
Variants are also seen with differing spellings, such as Van Leurnen, Van Leuren and Van Leyeren. Other variants include Van Lierinck, Van Lyre, Van Leir, and Van Lieshaar.
Surnames with the same origin as Van Leijen may often be found in concentrated areas in the Netherlands. These include regions such as Utrecht, Noord-Brabant, Zeeland, Gelderland, Overijssel, and Friesland. These spelling variations of the same surname may be found most commonly in these provinces.
Famous people with the name van Leijen
- Jacco van Leijen: Dutch football defender who plays for Eredivisie club FC Utrecht.
- Bas van Leijen: Dutch professional football player who currently plays as a defender for FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie.
- Frits van Leijen: Dutch professional football goalkeeper who currently plays for Excelsior in the Eredivisie.
- Monique van Leijen-Hoekstra: Dutch hurdler and member of the Dutch Olympic team.
- Achmed van Leijen: Dutch former professional cyclist who won several Dutch championships in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Yuttana van Leijen: Dutch actor, writer, and director, who is known for his roles in Dutch independent films.
- Wouter van Leijen: Dutch sprint canoer who won the gold medal in the C-2 1000 metres event at the 2003 World Championships.
- Anja van Leijen: Dutch international cricketer and member of the Dutch national team.
- Hans van Leijen: Dutch philosopher and professor at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). 10. Femke van Leijen: Dutch novelist, known for her award-winning novel The Daughters of Alice Bly.