Surname Spanjaart - Meaning and Origin

Spanjaart: What does the surname Spanjaart mean?

The last name Spanjaart comes from the Netherlands and can likely be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is a topographic name for someone who lived near a quarry or pit, derived from the Dutch words spaan and aar, meaning “chipping” and “pit” respectively. This name is most common in the northwestern provinces of the Netherlands.

Other regional variants of this name include Spaansen, Spaans, Spaands, Spaansman, Spaansman Bernhard, Spaansma, SpanJager, and Spanjer.

In Dutch and English records, the name is likely to be spelled Spanjaart, although phonetically, it is pronounced with a soft ‘J’ sound at the beginning, as in the English word “January”. During the 19th century, many Dutch immigrants to America Americanized their names, and the Spanjaarts of that era may have become known as Spanier, Spaniard, etc.

There are currently over 1,200 individuals in the Netherlands bearing the Spanjaart surname, and it is estimated that approximately half of all those who have the surname, reside in the provinces of Groningen and Friesland.

Today, it is likely that some people bear this surname who are not necessarily related to the original Dutch Spanjaart family. Given its Dutch origins, the name itself may have been adopted by people who were attracted to its unique spelling and could have originated from any part of the world.

Overall, the last name Spanjaart is thought to have developed from a topographic name and appears to have a specific Dutch origin. Given its phonetic and spelling variations, it is likely that some individuals worldwide today, may not have any direct connection to the original Dutch Spanjaart family.

Spanjaart: Where does the name Spanjaart come from?

The last name Spanjaart is of Dutch origin. Today, it is primarily found in the Netherlands and other European countries such as Belgium, Germany, and France, with smaller concentrations in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and Canada.

In the Netherlands, the population with the last name Spanjaart is distributed throughout the provinces, with the highest concentration being in the provinces of Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Flevoland, Utrecht, and Gelderland. Other cities with significant populations of Spanjaarts include Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and Leiden.

In the United States, the majority of the population with the last name Spanjaart is located on the East Coast with higher concentrations in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts. In Canada, Spanjaarts are primarily located in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.

In Australia, Spanjaart families can mainly be found in the states of Victoria and Queensland. While in South Africa, the region with the highest concentrations of the last name is Gauteng.

The last name Spanjaart is still fairly common today, with many people bearing the surname living in the Netherlands as well as other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Spanjaart

The surname Spanjaart is believed to be a Dutch origin surname from the word “spanjaard,” which means Dutchman. It is also sometimes spelled “Spanjart” or “Spanjerd.” Over time, the surname has evolved to include various spellings and variants.

Variants of Spanjaart include Sponeghe or Spaneghe, Sponjé, Sponje, Van Sponneghe, Sponneghe, Van Sponeghe, Van Spanjaard, Spanjart, Spanjerd, and Spanjerda.

Sponeghe and Spaneghe are two versions of the name, which often evolved when different dialects of Dutch were used in the same area. Van Sponeghe is a name variant used by people whose ancestors bore the name Sponeghe. It is also a patronymic name, meaning that it derived from the father’s given name as opposed to their surname.

Sponjé is a variant of the surname that originated in the Netherlands and was spoken with a dialect in the early days of Dutch colonisation. Sponje is the Dutch version of Sponjé.

Van Spanjaard is the Dutch version of the Spanjaart surname. It is a patronymic name which derived from the father’s given name as opposed to their surname.

Spanjart and Spanjerd are the Dutch and German versions of the name, respectively. Spanjerda is a feminized form of Spanjerd.

These variants reflect the evolution of the surname over time and its migration over different parts of the world. It is also an example of how naming conventions often vary among different cultures.

Famous people with the name Spanjaart

• Anneke Spanjaart: Dutch Australian solo recording artist, violist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.
• Anneke Hancock (née Spanjaart): Dutch Actress and former model.
• Dennis Spanjaart: Dutch football player who plays for BVV Barendrecht in the Tweede Divise.
• Lodewijk Spanjaart: Netherlands-based jazz vocalist, educator and clinician.
• Peter Spanjaart: Dutch Olympic hockey player.
• Paul Spanjaard: Dutch composer, songwriter, arranger, and saxophone player.
• Wil Spanjaard: Dutch speed skater who competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics.
• Wouter Spanjaard: Former Dutch professional road cyclist.
• Rieky Spanjaard: Dutch rower who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
• Debbie Spanjaart: Dutch swimming champion and won gold in the 200-metre backstroke at the 2002 European Junior Championships.

Other surnames

Spanjaard