indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Type Surname (from occupation, from location & from nickname)
Usage Dutch, Afrikaans, South African
Meaning & History
Means "the bear" or "the boar" in Dutch and Afrikaans, a nickname for a person who resembled the animal in some way, such as being very large, strong, or aggressive, or a habitational name for someone who lived by a sign depicting one. It could also be an occupational name for a bearleader, someone who handled bears displayed for entertainment.