Surname Voorhies - Meaning and Origin

Voorhies: What does the surname Voorhies mean?

Voorhies is a Dutch surname of toponymic origin, derived from a place name in the Netherlands. The name is essentially a combination of two Dutch words: "voor" which means "in front of" or "before", and "huis" translating to "house". Therefore, the literal translation is "before the house" or "in front of the house". The name might have been assigned to a family living in a prominent house near the entrance of a village, town, or community to distinguish them from others. As with many surnames of this type, particularly those of Dutch origin, the meanings can represent a range of geographical or topographical features, not just the literal translation. Over the course of history, different families bearing the last name Voorhies have migrated to other countries, including the United States, making the surname common in various parts of the world. Like other surnames, Voorhies carries the legacy and heritage of ancestors hailing from the Netherlands.

Voorhies: Where does the name Voorhies come from?

The last name Voorhies is most commonly found in the United States, mostly in the southeast. The state with the highest concentration of Voorhies is Arkansas, where there are over 800 Voorhies households. Other significant concentrations of Voorhies are found in California, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida.

The Voorhies name has Dutch roots and ubiquitously originates from the Dutch surname Van Voohies. Even though the spelling of the name has been slightly altered in some parts of the US, depending on place and time, there is no doubt that the families with the name Voorhies all have Dutch ancestors.

Research has also shown that Voorhies families were present in the US as early as the 1600s. They started settling in the south-eastern states of the USA around the 1800s. By the early 1900s, nearly every southern state had at least one Voorhies family living in it.

Nowadays, with improved transportation and even more marriage opportunities, the Voorhies name has spread out to other US states. It's likely that the last name Voorhies can be found in almost every state of the USA, albeit in fewer numbers. Despite its ubiquity in the US, research has shown that it still maintains a strong link to its original Dutch heritage.

Variations of the surname Voorhies

The surname Voorhies is derived from the Dutch language and is also known as Voorheis, Voorhes, Voorheese, Voorhiese, and Voorhis. It is an occupational name, originating from the Dutch word “voer”, meaning “to lead” or “to drive”. The surname came to the United States via Dutch immigrants who settled in the colonies in the 17th century and the name can be found in records as early as 1652.

Variants of Voorhies include Vorheis, Voyrheis, Vorhis, Vorhies, Voorhes, and Voorhise. All of these variations can be found in records of Dutch families living in early America. Spellings of the name often changed as families relocated. For example, Voorhies can also be found spelled as Voorhyde, Vaughan, and Vorhyse.

Additionally, there are a few surname variants of the same origin as Voorhies. These include Voorheis, Voorhess, Voorhees, and Fahrenholz. Voorheis is a variant of Voorheit, which was popularised in the late 19th century in the United States due to immigration and increased birth rates. Meanwhile, Voorhess and Voorhees is a variant of Voorhiese, which was popularised in the mid-19th century and became common in Pennsylvania. Lastly, Fahrenholz is a variation of Veerhoven, a surname associated with Voorhies.

Overall, the surname Voorhies is a Dutch name and its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin can be found all over the United States due to centuries of Dutch ancestry.

Famous people with the name Voorhies

• Mark-Paul Gosselaar (actor known for Saved by the Bell)
• Lisa Voorhies (actress known for Saved by the Bell)
• Rich Voorhies (businessman and alumni at Harvard Business School)
• Todd Voorhies (former college football player)
• Stephen Voorhies (controversial artist and filmmaker)
• Alex Voorhies (former professional basketball player)
• Peter Voorhies (owner of the Anchorage Daily News)
• Chris Voorhies (former American football player)
• Steve Voorhies (American athlete specializing in the javelin)
• Jamie Voorhies (musician and songwriter)

Other surnames

Voorhis