Surname van der Laar - Meaning and Origin
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van der Laar: What does the surname van der Laar mean?
The surname "Van der Laar" is of Dutch origin. In Dutch, "van der" means "from the" and is frequently used in Dutch surnames as an indicator of origin. "Laar" refers to a type of landscape, specifically a small woodland or sometimes a clearing in a large forest. This type of terminology was often used in early times to designate where a family came from or lived. Therefore, "Van der Laar" could be interpreted as meaning "from the small woodland" or "from the clearing in the large forest", suggesting that the original bearers of the name likely resided in such a location. However, it should be noted that the meaning of Dutch surnames may vary and could have evolved over time, so the exact interpretation might not be entirely accurate today. In modern Dutch, "laar" can also refer to a leather shoe or boot, but this is not commonly seen as the origin in surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisvan der Laar: Where does the name van der Laar come from?
The last name van der Laar is of Dutch origin and is still common today throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and other parts of Central Europe. Since the 1700s, many bearers of the surname have migrated from the geographically concentrated roots in the Netherlands to other parts of Europe and beyond, making the name less common in its original homeland.
Today, van der Laar is particularly common in the Netherlands. According to the City population database, the surname is presently the 30th most common name in the country. It is particularly popular in the northern provinces of Groningen and Friesland, but can also be found in larger cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Outside the Netherlands, van der Laar is most common in neighboring Belgium, where it is the 127th most frequent surname. The name can also be found in Germany, France, and the United States, although its presence in these countries is likely due to recent immigration.
Given the surname's popularity in the Netherlands and its roots in Central Europe, it is one of the most widespread European surnames. Its spread from the Netherlands to other parts of the continent is a testament to its longevity and prevalence over the centuries.
Variations of the surname van der Laar
The surname van der Laar is a Dutch patronymic surname that is derived from the personal name of an ancestor from the location in which the family resided in the Netherlands during the early modern period. Common variants of the surname include Van de Laar, Van der Laer, Van der Leur, Van der Loor, and Vanderlaar.
In addition, there are also anglicized forms of the surname, including VanDeLar, DeLar, DeLor, and Vandlaar.
The prevalence of the surname among Dutch Canadians which is also a form of the flemish origin is anonymised as Vonderley, whereas Vonderlee is a form adopted in the United States.
The common spelling of the surname Van der Laar is generally used by all the families descended from those of Dutch or Flemish origins, regardless of their current locations throughout the world.
Other reformed spellings of the surname include Vanderlay, Van der Lerner, Van der Ley, de la Lair, DeLaire, and Delar.
In modern times, several surnames have emerged from the same origins including, Vanderlaye, Vanderlinde, Vanderluit, Van der Waal, and Van de Lap.
Lastly, there are some spelling variations of the surname due to influences from other languages; such as, De Leur, Vanderl, and Vanderleur.
Famous people with the name van der Laar
- Yvonne van der Laar: A Dutch gymnast and part of the Dutch team who came in 8th in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
- Hans van der Laar: A Dutch cyclo-cross racer who came in 37th in the 2017-18 Cyclo-cross World Cup season.
- Laura van der Laar: Dutch Paralympic athlete who finished 5th in the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in the T54 wheelchair marathon.
- Bart van der Laar: A film director who was nominated for the Shanghai International Film Festival's Golden Goblet Awards for his documentary Bezeten.
- Willem van der Laar: A contemporary Dutch painter notable for his abstract expressions in oil and watercolour.
- Leo van der Laar: The 4th goalkeeper to play for the Netherlands national football team since 2000, representing the team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
- Saskia van der Laar: Dutch speed skater who has competed in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games and is the current European Junior Champion.
- Irma van der Laar: Dutch rower who won the gold medal in the Women's Quadruple Sculls event at the 2016 European Rowing Championships.
- Manon van der Laar: Dutch Paralympic swimmer who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in the Women's 200m freestyle event.
- Bart van der Laar: A Dutch historian of philosophy and noted expert on the philosophy of Immanuel Kant.