Surname Westerhof - Meaning and Origin
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Westerhof: What does the surname Westerhof mean?
The last name Westerhof is of Dutch origin and can be traced back to the fifteenth century in the Netherlands. The name is derived from the words 'West' and 'Hoef', translating to 'west corner'. This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have lived near the western corner of a particular patch of land.
It is believed to have been a patronymic name, meaning a name derived from a father's forename. This explains the presence of other variants of the name, such as Westerhove and Westerhoff, since these were often used by different branches of a family.
Generally the Westerhofs were involved in the farming industry, most likely as landowners. This suggests that they were of some wealth and social stature in their respective areas.
Today the name is used by many people around the world, including settlers in Dutch colonies such as South Africa, as well as descendants of Dutch immigrants all over the world. It is still most prevalent in the Netherlands, so if you ever find yourself in the country you may even stumble across someone carrying the Westerhof name.
Order DNA origin analysisWesterhof: Where does the name Westerhof come from?
The last name Westerhof is common in many countries in Northern and Central Europe. In Netherlands, it is the 32nd most common surname, with an estimated 45,367 people carrying the family name. It is also a very popular surname in Germany, with an estimated 28,002 people having it. It is also found in Belgium and Switzerland, with an estimated 9,397 and 8,187 people having the last name Westerhof respectively. In Luxembourg, there are only 13 people who carry the last name, and 7 of those are of Dutch descent. Ukraine also has 30 people of Dutch descent who have the last name Westerhof, making it the 8th most common Dutch surnames in the country.
The surname is likely derived from a toponym of Dutch origin, originating from “Westerhof.” This is a compound name that refers to an area with a history of farming, although it is not known exactly where this place is located. However, given the popularity of the last name in the Netherlands, it is likely that Westerhof was once a small village or settlement in The Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Westerhof
The surname Westerhof has many variants, spellings, and surnames associated with it.
Westerhof is a Dutch surname that originated from the Netherlands. It was most likely derived from the Dutch words ' West' and 'hooft', which mean 'West' and 'head' respectively. As such Westerhof literally means 'west head'.
Variants, spellings, and surnames derived from the same origin as Westerhof include Westerhoff, Westerhoof, Westerhoven, Westerhove, Westerhuf, Westerhuis, Westerhuizen, Westerhum, Westerhun, Westerhuizen, and Westerhofen.
The more uncommon spellings include Wasterhove, Westhoff, Westrof, Westhusen, Westhofer, Westhuf, Westhuser, Westhuizen, Westhumer, Westhuver, Westhelle, and Westherv.
The surnames Westerschulte, Wasterschulte, Westerse, Westersoo, Westerling, and Westerveen have also been linked to that of Westerhof.
Finally, other surnames which have the same origin as Westerhof but slightly different spelling may include Wetterhahn, Wettner, and Westreich.
Famous people with the name Westerhof
- Nico Westerhof, Dutch speed skater
- Richard Westerhof, Dutch composer
- Eric Westerhof, Dutch footballer
- Sjaak Westerhof, Dutch footballer
- Thijs Westerhof, Dutch strongman
- Bart Westerhof, Dutch water polo player
- Dave Westerhof, American radio personality
- Hans Westerhof, Dutch actor
- Remy Westerhof, Dutch film director 10.Jurriaan Westerhof, Dutch actor