Surname Verhorst - Meaning and Origin
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Verhorst: What does the surname Verhorst mean?
The last name Verhorst is a Dutch surname originating from the Netherlands and is recorded in many early church records. It is believed to be a topographic name and is derived from the Old Dutch word “ver” meaning “forest” and “horst”, meaning “wooded hill”. Together, the name translates to “wooded hill with a forest” and is an apt description of the area in which many Verhorst families reside.
The original bearer of the surname Verhorst were likely a family of landowners who owned a small piece of property atop a wooded hill surrounded by a forest. The family name was then adopted by descendants which spread throughout Europe and eventually the United States. The name is still commonly found today in parts of the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the United States.
Verhorst families tend to be self-sufficient and are led by a dominant matriarch. Family members are fiercely loyal to each other and place a strong emphasis on community and connection. This is highly reflected in their family gatherings which are always filled with cheerful celebrations and shared stories.
Each new generation of Verhorst descendants honor their ancestors with pride and look to uphold the values that their forefathers established hundreds of years ago. No matter where they are in the world, Verhorsts possess a strong sense of identity and a unique belonging to their family and their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisVerhorst: Where does the name Verhorst come from?
The last name Verhorst is most common in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. In the Netherlands, the name is most prominently found in the southeastern and northern provinces. In Belgium, it is concentrated mainly in the Flemish provinces of West and East Flanders and Antwerp. In Germany, records of the name can most prominently be found in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria. In terms of population, the Netherlands has the most people with the name Verhorst, with 18,314 people recorded in 2016. It was ranked as the 322nd most popular name in the Netherlands.
Verhorst is derived from the Old Dutch term vertorus. It originally referred to a wet meadow or marshland, often found near a body of water such as a river. The name likely dates back to the Middle Ages, when people lived near these marshlands–incidentally, the Netherlands is famous for its ‘polders’, which are depressions created out of landmass in the coastal regions.
The last name Verhorst has a wide-reaching distribution across Europe. Yet, it is most popular in itstraditional places of origin where it can be tied back to its roots of marshlands and rivers.
Variations of the surname Verhorst
Verhorst is a Dutch surname derived from the Dutch word ‘vorst’, meaning forest. The most common variants include Verhorsts, Vegter, Verhorsten, Verhoorst, Verhoorsten, and Voorst. All of these variants share a common origin, and some may even be direct variants of the original surname.
Variants of Verhorst may also include Veert, Verharte, Verhaert, Verhagen, Verhofstede, Verhops, Verhoude, Verhuizen, and others. While not necessarily related to the original is also Vorst and de Vorst, meaning ‘of the forest’ in Dutch.
The spelling of the surname is often subject to regional and personal variation, so there are many alternate spellings of the family name. For example, you may find spellings such as Vershorst, Verhürrst, or Verharts.
Since Verhorst is a Dutch surname, there are plenty of associated Dutch surnames. Variants of the family name in the Netherlands include Verhage, Verhoofstad, Verhoog, Verhulst, and Vorster. Common Dutch spellings of the surname include Vershore and Voorhore.
In Belgium, the surname is most commonly spelled Verhaut and Verhelst. Some other Belgian surnames that are possibly related include Vorste, Vorsselmans, Verheyden, and Verhegtet.
In Germany, Verhörst and Verhörste are common variants. Other related German surnames include Vorts, Vershörst, Vorpahl, and Vorberg.
Generally, the name Verhorst is not very common. In fact, it is believed to be so rare that the U.S. Census only recorded 75 people with the surname as of 2020. However, its variants are comparatively more common.
Famous people with the name Verhorst
- Jochem Verhorst: Dutch actor in films like 'Hey Egon!' and 'Kunt u mij de weg naar Hamelen vertellen, mijnheer?'.
- Ronald Verhorst: Dutch composer and organist.
- Mark Verhorst: Dutch musician of the progressive rock band 'Esoteric Theory'.
- Bob Verhorst: Dutch painter and sculptor from The Hague.
- Holst van der Last: Dutch sculptor and designer who collaborated with Feldmann, Hulshoff, and Verhorst.
- Erik Verhorst: Dutch swimmer who competed in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Randy Verhorst: Dutch Olympic swimmer from the Netherlands Antilles.
- Chris Verhorst: a Dutch academic researcher and lecturer in substance use.
- Renée Verhorst: Dutch field hockey player who competed in the Olympic Games.
- Bart Verhorst: Dutch cyclist who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics.