Surname van Holt - Meaning and Origin
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van Holt: What does the surname van Holt mean?
The last name Van Holt is of Dutch origin, and has been used in the Netherlands and surrounding countries for centuries. The name appears to be derived from the Middle Dutch elements "van" and "houte", which roughly translate to "of the wood" or "of the woods". This suggests an origin associated with a rural setting or with forestry, such as a forester, someone living near the edge of a wood, or descendant of someone with the occupation of a woodland worker.
The Van Holt surname has likely been used as a hereditary surname since the Middle Ages. Its spread throughout Europe and the US may have been due to famous people, human trade, or the movement of Dutch immigrants.
Van Holt is an uncommon last name, with only 3,885 people in the US carrying it, and nearly 8,000 around the world. Even so, some Van Holts have made outstanding contributions to society, including renowned Dutch painter and muralist Aad van Holt, American televangelist Joseph van Hollebeke, and American scientist Matthew van Holt.
Order DNA origin analysisvan Holt: Where does the name van Holt come from?
The last name van Holt is a Dutch noble surname. It is most commonly found in the Netherlands and in Belgian towns with strong Dutch ties. It is uncommon elsewhere because, unlike many other Dutch noble surnames, it is not widely used as a given name.
Van Holt was once a particularly important name among Dutch nobility, with the House of van Holt, an armigerous Family. However, in modern times the House of van Holt has largely become extinct, at least in the Netherlands.
Today, the last name is quite rare, but can still be found in the Dutch and Belgian cities of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Breda, Den Haag, and Antwerp. There is also a known presence of the last name in Germany, likely due to the connections between the two countries.
Van Holt is also found in the United States amongst descendants of Dutch immigrants who moved to the country in the late 19th century. These immigrants were from a variety of backgrounds, not just the aristocracy, so the last name exists in varying forms such as Van Holt, Vanholt, Vanholte and more.
In all, the last name van Holt is still present today, but it is found in much smaller numbers than in its glory days. The name is largely found in Dutch and Belgian cities such as Rotterdam, Utrecht and Antwerp, as well as amongst Dutch immigrants to the United States, some of whom changed the spelling of the name to assimilate better.
Variations of the surname van Holt
The surname van Holt has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Van Holte, Vanholt, Vanholte, Van Holtz, Vanholtz, and Vanholtzebrugh.
Van Holt is a Dutch surname of the patronymic form, derived from the first name Holt. The name Holt is derived from an Old Germanic personal name and means “holder of the forest”.
Van Holt can also be spelled as Van Holte, Vanholt, Vanholte, or Van Holtz. The suffix “-te” is also frequently added to the name to denote a large or distinguished family, or it may be from the old Dutch “te” meaning “at”.
Vanholtz and Vanholtzebrugh are alternative spellings that evolved from Van Holt. Vanholtz is based on the Old German spelling and the Dutch spelling of the name, while Vanholtzebrugh essentially means “at the Holtz Bridge”.
The surname of Van Holst can also be considered as a variant of van Holt, as holst means “wood” in Dutch. This variation on the original name has become more prevalent in the modern age as Vanholst has become an increasingly popular spelling.
No matter what the spelling or variation, the van Holt family is among the oldest families in Europe, with a long and distinguished history that can be traced back for centuries.
Famous people with the name van Holt
- Anna Van Holt: Actress who has starred in movies such as The Dar Jar, Lady Hotel and The Whispering Tale.
- Anton Van Holt: Musician and songwriter known for his electronic and house music.
- John Van Holt: Professional baseball player who played for the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and Montreal Expos.
- Paul Van Holt: Dutch actor and comedian who has starred in films such as De Letze Monet, Uitstappen and Het Blijfe Verstaan.
- Peter Van Holt: Dutch businessman who is the founder of Flip Trading and sits on the board of a number of companies.
- Carl Van Holt: American architect known for the influential design of the New York Stock Exchange and the International Mercantile Marine Building.
- Larry Van Holt: Professional football player who played for the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears.
- Jan Van Holt:Belgian-born restaurateur and businessman who owns the multi-country restaurant chain Le Grand Marche.
- Willem Van Holt: Dutch painter who created many works in the style of post-impressionism.
- Lendert Van Holt: Dutch author who has written a number of books, mainly focused on nature and the environment.