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My brother-in-law's surname in Van Hasselt. I understand VAN = of. What about "Hasselt" - does it have a meaning, or what's the origin?
He is American, but as far as I know his family is originally from Austria.
He is American, but as far as I know his family is originally from Austria.
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The surname Van Hasselt means "of Hasselt", and it's of Dutch origin.
Hasselt is a place in the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands. But, there's also a place called Hasselt in the province of Limburg in Belgium. No matter if the surname is derived from the place in the Netherlands or Belgium, the language of origin is the same: Dutch. Because you see, centuries ago, Belgium was a part of the Netherlands, and that's why they nowadays still speak Dutch in a part of Belgium; Flanders.
However, little is known about the origins of botch cities of Hasselt. Its name comes from "Hasaluth", meaning "hazel wood".
By the way, it's ofcourse possible that your brother-in-law's family is originally from Austria, but the surname Van Hasselt is completely non-Austrian and a typical Dutch surname. I would say that some Austrian woman of your brother-in-law's family married a Dutch man with the surname Van Hasselt and remained living in Austria with him. Their descandants earned the Van Hasselt surname, and that's why it can be explained why a family with a Dutch surname can be from Austria.
Wow, that was quite a long message! ;)
I hope this information helps. :)
Regards,
Lucille
Hasselt is a place in the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands. But, there's also a place called Hasselt in the province of Limburg in Belgium. No matter if the surname is derived from the place in the Netherlands or Belgium, the language of origin is the same: Dutch. Because you see, centuries ago, Belgium was a part of the Netherlands, and that's why they nowadays still speak Dutch in a part of Belgium; Flanders.
However, little is known about the origins of botch cities of Hasselt. Its name comes from "Hasaluth", meaning "hazel wood".
By the way, it's ofcourse possible that your brother-in-law's family is originally from Austria, but the surname Van Hasselt is completely non-Austrian and a typical Dutch surname. I would say that some Austrian woman of your brother-in-law's family married a Dutch man with the surname Van Hasselt and remained living in Austria with him. Their descandants earned the Van Hasselt surname, and that's why it can be explained why a family with a Dutch surname can be from Austria.
Wow, that was quite a long message! ;)
I hope this information helps. :)
Regards,
Lucille
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And another name:
My last name is "Volkstien"/"Wolkstien".
My grandmother always told me that it means cloud+stone.
Now I did some looking-up of my own, and found that "Wolk" does mean "cloud", but "Volk" means "folk/people". I think it's more likely that the name originally ment "stone people" or "stone person" and reffered to someone who was working with stones somehow.
Am I write? What do you think?
My grandfather was Austrian-Jewish.
My last name is "Volkstien"/"Wolkstien".
My grandmother always told me that it means cloud+stone.
Now I did some looking-up of my own, and found that "Wolk" does mean "cloud", but "Volk" means "folk/people". I think it's more likely that the name originally ment "stone people" or "stone person" and reffered to someone who was working with stones somehow.
Am I write? What do you think?
My grandfather was Austrian-Jewish.
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When the name is written Wolkstien, it means literally translated "cloud stone." 'Wolk' is Dutch for 'cloud', and 'stien' is a different written form of German 'stein', which means 'stone.'
When the name is written Volkstien, it means literally translated 'people stone.' You're indeed right: 'Volk' means 'folk, people.' With this form of the surname, I'd think you're right about the theory of 'stone people.' Also it could be some nickname for an unfriendly, cold of folk/people; ever heard the saying 'as cold as stone'? But I think your theory is more likely.
But with the Wolkstien surname, I doubt if it's got to do with stones somehow, unless it's a differently written version of the Volkstien surname. I can't really say something about Wolkstein, sorry.
Hope I could help.
Regards,
Lucille
When the name is written Volkstien, it means literally translated 'people stone.' You're indeed right: 'Volk' means 'folk, people.' With this form of the surname, I'd think you're right about the theory of 'stone people.' Also it could be some nickname for an unfriendly, cold of folk/people; ever heard the saying 'as cold as stone'? But I think your theory is more likely.
But with the Wolkstien surname, I doubt if it's got to do with stones somehow, unless it's a differently written version of the Volkstien surname. I can't really say something about Wolkstein, sorry.
Hope I could help.
Regards,
Lucille
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Hi Lucille,
Thank's a lot for the very detailed and interesting information on both names!
As for Van Hasselt, I'm not surprised to hear it's a Dutch name. It sounded Dutch to me from the start. I guess your theory is very possible of how it happened.
Thank's again :-)
Thank's a lot for the very detailed and interesting information on both names!
As for Van Hasselt, I'm not surprised to hear it's a Dutch name. It sounded Dutch to me from the start. I guess your theory is very possible of how it happened.
Thank's again :-)
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