Surname Goepen - Meaning and Origin

Goepen: What does the surname Goepen mean?

The last name Goepen is derived from the Dutch word “goep”, which means a pond or small pool of water. The name is likely to have been taken on by someone living in close proximity to a pond or pool of water. Alternatively, it could be an occupational name for someone whose job involved managing a pond or pool. For example, a goepescuer, someone who cleaned and maintained the pool.

Goepen is a common Dutch and Belgian surname. According to data provided by the Dutch and Belgian Population registries, there are currently over 2500 people in the Netherlands and Belgium with the Goepen surname. The largest concentration of Goepen families is located in the city of Leeuwarden, in Netherlands.

The name Goepen is an old Dutch name and traces back to the 1500s, when it was used to describe a small pool of water. In the Dutch language, the name Goepen is pronounced ‘H-OAP-en’. It is derived from the Middle Dutch ‘goep', which translates to ‘pit, puddle or pool of water’. Another related Dutch name is Goepers, which means ‘well’ or ‘source’.

Today the Goepen surname is still a popular Dutch surname. In fact, it was one of the most popular surnames in the Netherlands in 2018. It is also a popular surname in Belgium. Many Dutch immigrants to the United States also brought the surname with them, and it is still relatively common among these families today.

Goepen: Where does the name Goepen come from?

Goepen is a common last name found mainly in northern parts of Europe. Most prominently, the Goepen surname is widely associated with people of Dutch, Flemish, and Belgian heritage. It is the 49th most common family name in the Netherlands according to their national census. The Goepen surname is also commonly found in Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Germany, France, and Austria.

In the United States, the Goepen surname mostly came from Dutch and German immigrants. According to the United States census in 1990, the Goepen family name ranked 19, 47, and 34 in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin respectively. As of 2020, the Goepen family name is also increasingly appearing in countries such as England, Scotland, and Australia.

The meaning of the Goepen surname is thought to come from a Dutch surprised response. It is thought to have been used as a reaction to the sound of a sneeze but this has not been definitively proven. In Flemish, the name Goepen is thought to have arisen from a Frankish word which translates to “gulp” or “mouthful.”

Overall, the Goepen family name is famously associated with northern European nationals, and is increasingly becoming popular among English-speaking nations. Its rich history, diverse migration, and interesting etymology makes it an intriguing and attractive surname to families with diverse cultural backgrounds.

Variations of the surname Goepen

Goepen is a surname of Germanic origin that is most commonly spelled as Gopen, Goepen, Ghoepen, Goeppen, and Goep. It is usually found in German, Dutch, and Scandinavian countries.

The variants of this surname belonging to Germany include: Goepner, Goepner-Esper, Goepner-Ro Vizner, Goppen, Gopen, Ghoepen, Gheppen, Gaepen, Gaepner, Geppner, and Goeben. In Norway, this surname is usually pronounced as Goepen, Geopen, Gepen, Goopen, or Gorensen.

The variants that are found in the Netherlands are Goepen, Gaepen/Gaepens, Geppen, Ghopen, Gehoepen, Geppens, Goeppen, Goeppens, Goepen/Gopen, and Goepens/Gopens.

Lastly, the Danish versions of this surnamme are typically found spelled as Goepen, Gepen, Goepens, or Goopen.

In summary, the variants, spellings, and surnames for Goepen can range from Gopen, Goepen, Ghoepen, Goeppen, and Goep in Germanic countries, Goepner, Goepner-Esper, Goepner-Ro Vizner, Goppen, Gopen, Ghoepen, Gheppen, Gaepen, Gaepner, Geppner, and Goeben in Germany, Goepen, Gaepen/Gaepens, Geppen, Ghopen, Gehoepen, Geppens, Goeppen, Goeppens, Goepen/Gopen, and Goepens/Gopens in the Netherlands, and Goepen, Gepen, Goepens, or Goopen in Denmark.

Famous people with the name Goepen

• Paul Goepen: engineer, researcher, and entrepreneur specializing in medical technology.
• Kenneth Goepen: American politician from Wisconsin.
• Vivien Goepen: Australian singer-songwriter.
• Pierre Goepen: French entrepreneur, hunter, and collector in the Far East.
• Yann Goepen: former French football player.
• Trudy Goepen: Dutch swimmer who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• Jürgen Goepen: former German footballer who played for VfL Bochum and other clubs.
• Emmy Goepen: Dutch table tennis player.
• Bernhard Goepen: German artist and illustrator.
• Humphrey Goepen: Dutch businessman and former manager of the Dutch national football team.

Other surnames

Goepel