Surname van der Lake - Meaning and Origin
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van der Lake: What does the surname van der Lake mean?
The last name van der Lake is of Dutch or Danish origin. This type of surname was used to indicate a person's origination from a specific geographic area. In this case, van der Lake indicates a person who had ancestral roots in an area with a large body of water—specifically, a lake.
The van part of the name is derived from the Dutch word for "from", and the der tells us to look at the second part of the name. The lake portion of the name is self explanatory: the individual has ancestral ties to a place where a lake is found. Historically, this would indicate the family was originally from a region near a large lake, typically deep within the Netherlands or Denmark.
Other derivatives of the van der Lake surname include Van De Lake, Vand Laak, Vanderlake, Van der Laak, and Vande Laak. Each variation of the surname indicates a person with ancestral ties to a region with a large body of water—a lake, for example.
The van der Lake surname is a reminder of a family's original connection to a particular place—in this case, a region where a lake is found. It can also indicate a common ancestry, as people with the same surname likely share a similar ancestral history.
Order DNA origin analysisvan der Lake: Where does the name van der Lake come from?
The last name van der Lake is a Dutch common surname. The name is derived from the old Dutch phrase "Van de Meer", which translates to "from the lake". Historians speculate that the name referred to families who lived near a lake or were employed with lake activities.
The surname van der Lake is extremely popular in the Netherlands and Belgium, and it is likely that the majority of people who bear the name still live in the Low Countries, especially in cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Antwerp.
It is also relatively common throughout Europe, including in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Scandinavian countries. Those with the last name van der Lake in the rest of the world are likely to have descended from people who emigrated from Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially to the United States and many countries in South America and Asia.
In the US, those with the last name van der Lake are almost entirely descended from Dutch settlers and are primarily concentrated in states on the Eastern Seaboard such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Some prominent examples of people with this name include US Senator and former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Henry van der Lake, and Dutch Olympic swimmer, Marleen van der Lake.
Variations of the surname van der Lake
Variations of the surname van der Lake can include van der Laak, Vandelaak, Vanderlak, Vandrelak, Vandrelake, Van Der Lakes, Vandlake, Vandellak, and Vanderlake. The variations of this surname all originate from the van der prefix which was used to denote a family living near a particular body of water, such as a lake.
The use of the prefix was common in the Netherlands, with variations of the name ultimately evolving when families settled in other areas. While the name van der Lake still holds strong in the Netherlands, most of the other surnames took root elsewhere.
In the United States, for example, van der Laak and Vandellaak became prominent as the primary variations of the original name. In Germany, the variation van der Laak was found to become popular during the mid-19th century, with more modern variations such as Vandrelake, Vandrelak, and Vanderlak becoming popular only after World War II.
In Canada, the surname Vandlake is often the variant of choice, stemming from French settlers in the early 18th century. This surname has also been Anglicized into the variations Van Der Lakes and Vandellak in some contexts.
Overall, the variations of this surname embody a complex history of migration, with the original spelling of van der Lake still held strong in its original Dutch format.
Famous people with the name van der Lake
- Greta Van Der Laaken: Greta is an American-born Dutch actress, best known for her roles in the films Drop Dead Gorgeous, Gingerbread Man and Boys Don't Cry.
- Sjors Van Der Laak: Sjors is a Dutch artist, filmmaker and designer. He has exhibited his work at various galleries around the world including the Reina Sofia Museum in Spain and the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
- Ester Van Der Laaken: Ester is a Dutch poet from Rotterdam. Her work has been featured in numerous anthologies and she has also been the recipient of numerous awards for her poetic writing.
- Max Van Der Laaken: Max is a Dutch classical musician and conductor. He has served as the musical director of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and the Staatsoper Berlin.
- Klaas Van Der Lake: Klaas is a Dutch city planner and architect who has worked in the UK, the Netherlands and the United States. He has been responsible for major designs in cities such as Rotterdam, Amsterdam and London.
- Bas Van Der Laaken: Bas is a Dutch entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder of the investment firm Van Der Laaken Ventures, which is focused on backing innovative startups and helping them to succeed.
- Vivienne Van Der Laaken: Vivienne is a Dutch model and presenter known for her appearances on TV shows such as Top Model and FashionTV. She has also been featured in magazines such as Elle, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue.
- Frits Van Der Laaken: Frits is a Dutch author, educator and social activist. He is best known for his books on sociology, philosophy and politics, which have been translated into multiple languages.
- Willem Van Der Laaken: Willem is a Dutch fashion designer based in Amsterdam. He is best known for his avant-garde and cutting edge designs, which have been worn by celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Rihanna.