Surname Oranje - Meaning and Origin
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Oranje: What does the surname Oranje mean?
Oranje is an old Dutch surname that is derived from the name "Orange." It has been around since at least the 13th century when the first member of the Dutch royal house was given the title of ‘Count of Orange’. Oranje is a patronymic surname, meaning that it relates to the given name of a person’s father.
The name ‘Orange’ itself is thought to be derived from the Latin ‘Auranja’, which means "from Auranus", referring to the town of Auratzii in Southern France. It was there in 1163 that one of the earliest known members of the Oranje family, Raimond de Oranje, was born.
Many members of the Oranje family have gone on to become important figures in Dutch history. Most notably was Willem van Oranje, or William of Orange, who led the fight for independence from Spain in the 16th century, thus making him one of the most credited figures in the Netherlands’ history of nationhood.
The name Oranje is still quite common in the Netherlands today, where about 11,000 people bear the name, and many more with similar variations such as Oranj and Orenge. The name is also relatively common in the Dutch speaking countries of South Africa, Belgium and the Netherlands Antilles.
All in all, given its long history, the last name Oranje has a natural place in the fabric of Dutch culture. The name is associated with a proud, ancient history and it still carries a certain amount of respect and reverence today.
Order DNA origin analysisOranje: Where does the name Oranje come from?
The last name Oranje is most commonly found in the Netherlands and is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Dutch word for «orange», which is «oranje», and is the surname of the former royal family of the Netherlands. Oranje is a popular last name for members of the Dutch aristocracy and is shared among many prominent Dutch families. In the last few decades, the popularity of this surname has spread to other countries, including Canada, the United States, and South Africa. The United States Census Bureau counts more than 15,000 Oranjes living in the United States today.
In countries such as Canada, the last name Oranje is also shared among Dutch immigrant families who settled in the country in the 19th and 20th centuries. In Canada, the largest concentration of these families are found in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, with smaller numbers of families living in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
In South Africa, the name Oranje is also shared by descendants of Dutch settlers who moved to the country during the 19th century. The name is particularly common among the Afrikaner population, due to the historic importance of the Dutch royal family in South African history.
Finally, in the United Kingdom, the name Oranje is also quite common due to Dutch migration in the 20th century. Around 7,000 British citizens share the last name Oranje. This is a testament to the strong Dutch-British connections that have been maintained over the centuries.
Variations of the surname Oranje
The surname Oranje is a Dutch and Afrikaans ethnicity-based surname that traces its origins from the Middle Dutch “oranje” meaning orange. Here is a complete list of the variants, spellings and surnames that are based on the origin of this surname:
Variants:
- Oranj
- Oranjes
Spellings:
- Oranje (common spelling)
- Oranjee
- Oronje
- Oronjee
- Orannie
- Oranniee
Surnames (Afrikaans):
- Oranje
- Orenje
- Oorang
- Ooreng
Surnames (Dutch):
- Oranje
- Oorang
- Oerang
- Orenje
- Oranger
- Oraing
- Ooring
The most frequently used surnames derived from “oranje” are Oranje and Oornje. It is a common name of Dutch ancestry that is still popular today. This surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands, as well as in Afrikaans-speaking areas of South Africa. However, since the early 20th century, it can also be found in other countries due to migration.
Famous people with the name Oranje
- Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands
- Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
- Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau, Dutch royalty
- Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, statesman and politician of the Dutch Republic
- John de Mul, Dutch politician
- Raymond van der Pluijm, Dutch entrepreneur and former state secretary in the Ministry of Justice
- Maurice van de Pol, Dutch politician
- Kees van der Staaij, Dutch politician
- Maarten van der Weijden, Dutch professional long-distance swimmer
- Henry Oranje, Dutch actor and television presenter