Surname Van Gelder - Meaning and Origin
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Van Gelder: What does the surname Van Gelder mean?
The origin of the Van Gelder family name dates back to the Dutch language. Van is Dutch for “of” or “from” while Gelder is derived from the Dutch word for “county.” In the original spelling, the family name was spelled Van Ghelder or Van Gheldere.
The surname is believed to have originated in the Gelders Province of the Netherlands and is most likely derived from a translation of a place name or a local leader in the area. It is also believed that the root of the Van Gelder surname may have been derived from the name of a noble family living in one of the villages in Gelderland in the 13th century. In some parts of the province, the family name was spelled with the Dutch surnames van den Gelderen and van de Gelderen. The earliest records of the Van Gelder family name appear in Holland during the 16th century.
Today the Van Gelder name is found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Holland as well as other parts of the world. There is also a large Van Gelder community in South Africa. Through the years, the Van Gelder surname has developed into many different variations. Variations of the name include Vande Gelder, Vanden Gelder, Vander Gelder, Van Der Gelder, Van Der Geldere, Van Der Ghelder, Van Der Gheldere, Van Gelderen, Van Ghelder and Van Gheldere.
Order DNA origin analysisVan Gelder: Where does the name Van Gelder come from?
The last name Van Gelder is most common today in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the northeast region of France. It is one of the most common surnames in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium, and is especially popular in the coastal regions of the northern Netherlands. The name can also be found in the Netherlands Antilles, which includes parts of the Caribbean.
Originally, the name derived from the Middle Dutch phrase Van Geldere, which meant, "from Gelderen," the name of a small town in the Netherlands. Over the centuries, this name evolved to become Van Gelder, which is still fairly common today.
According to data from the population register of the Netherlands, there are at least 20,000 people today with this surname living in the country. The name is also present in the other countries of the Low Countries and throughout the Flemish speaking region of Wallonia in neighboring Belgium. It is also present in northeastern France, particularly in the region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, an area once part of the Netherlands that was occupied by French forces in the mid-to late 1700s.
Variations of the surname Van Gelder
The Van Gelder surname is a very common Dutch surname found all around the world. Variations and spellings of this name include Gelder, Van Gelderen, and Vande Gelder. Other surnames with a similar origin can include Van Gilder, Van Gilderen, and Gilder.
Van Gelder is a habitational surname, meaning that it originated from a place or region of some sort. The most recent provenance of the name is believed to be the town of Ermelo, Gelderland, Netherlands.
In Dutch, the name is translated to mean “of Ghelder” or “from Ghelder”. This refers to the region of Ghelder, which is an area between the towns of Ermelo and Putten. Ghelder was a part of the Gelderland region, which is why the most common spelling of the surname is Van Gelder.
The Van Gelder name also crossed language borders. In French, the name is Gilder and in Swedish, the name is Gilderen. This means that the Van Gelder surname is found in a variety of locations and can have numerous spellings.
Van Gelder is one of the oldest Dutch surnames, with records of the name going back to 1358. The name has since spread to many different countries around the world, representing the Netherlands’ rich history as a trading powerhouse.
The different spellings of the Van Gelder name means that it is widely recognized, even outside of the Netherlands. It is a great way to honor your heritage and to keep the Dutch legacy alive.
Famous people with the name Van Gelder
- Rudy Van Gelder: a renown jazz producer, engineer, and recording studio owner who worked with numerous notable jazz musicians over the course of his career.
- Glenn Van Gelder: an American publishing executive, editor, and publisher, best known as the head of science fiction and fantasy publisher, Galaxy Science Fiction.
- Pierre Van Gelder: a Belgian football player from 1916 to 1924 who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
- Frederik van Gelder: a former Dutch speed skater who specialized in the 500 and 1000 metres.
- Theodor van Gelder: a Dutch speed skater who competed in the 1932 and 1936 Winter Olympics.
- Maarten van Gelder: an electropop producer and record label boss known for his work with Dutch acts such as Kraak & Smaak, and remixes for artists like Beyoncé Apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas, and Paul Oakenfold.
- John van Gelder: a former Dutch rower who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
- Willem van Gelder: a Dutch track and field athlete who competed in several events including the triathlon.
- Louk van Gelder: a Dutch swimmer who competed in the 1985 World Aquatics Championships.
- Jan van Gelder: a Dutch sailor who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics, the 1932 Summer Olympics, and the 1948 Summer Olympics.