Belgian Surnames

Belgian names are used in the country of Belgium in western Europe.
usage
Meeuwsen Dutch
Derived from the Dutch given name Meeuw, which comes from Bartholomeus (see Bartholomew).
Meijer Dutch
Dutch form of Meyer 1.
Mercier French
French form of Mercer.
Merckx Dutch, Flemish
From the given name Mark.
Merle French
French form of Merlo.
Mertens Dutch, Low German, Flemish
From the given name Merten.
Merx Dutch, Flemish
From the given name Mark.
Meunier French
Means "miller" in French.
Michaud French
Derived from the given name Michel.
Michel French, German, Dutch, Basque
Derived from the given name Michel, Michiel or Mitxel.
Michiels Dutch, Flemish
Means "son of Michiel".
Monet French
Derived from either of the given names Hamon or Edmond. A famous bearer was the French impressionist painter Claude Monet (1840-1926).
Monette French
Variant of Monet.
Montagne French
French cognate of Montagna.
Mooren Dutch
Derived from the given name Maurus.
Morand French
French form of Morandi.
Moreau French
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Maurus.
Morel French
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Maurus.
Morin French
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Maurus.
Moulin French
Means "mill" in French.
Mulder Dutch
Dutch equivalent of Miller.
Muyskens Dutch
Means "little mouse" in Dutch.
Nagel German, Dutch
Means "nail" in German and Dutch, an occupational name for a carpenter or nailsmith.
Nelissen Dutch
Means "son of Cornelis".
Neuville French
From the names of various French towns meaning "new town".
Nicolas French
Derived from the given name Nicolas.
Noel French, English
Either from the given name Noël, or else derived directly from Old French noel "Christmas" and given to a person who had a particular connection with the holiday.
Normand French
French form of Norman.
Noyer French
French form of Nogueira.
Offermans Dutch
From Dutch offer meaning "offering, donation", referring to a person who collected money in a church.
Ogtrop Dutch
Originally denoted a person who was from the town of Ochtrup in Germany, which is of uncertain origin.
Oliver English, Catalan, German, French
Derived from the given name Oliver.
Olivier French
Derived from the given name Olivier.
Oomen Dutch
Patronymic derived from Middle Dutch oom meaning "(maternal) uncle".
Otten Dutch
Means "son of Otto".
Page English, French
Occupational name meaning "servant, page". It is ultimately derived (via Old French and Italian) from Greek παιδίον (paidion) meaning "little boy".
Paget English, French
Diminutive of Page.
Pander Dutch
Variant of Penders.
Panders Dutch
Variant of Penders.
Pape French
French cognate of Pope.
Paquet 1 French
Occupational name for a firewood gatherer, from Old French pacquet "bundle".
Paquet 2 French
From a diminutive of the given name Pascal.
Parent English, French
Derived from Old French parent meaning either "notable" (from Latin pārēre meaning "to be apparent") or "parent" (from Latin parere meaning "to produce, to give birth").
Pascal French
Derived from the given name Pascal.
Paul English, French, German, Dutch
From the given name Paul.
Paulis Dutch
From the given name Paul.
Paulissen Dutch
Means "son of Paul".
Pauwels Dutch, Flemish
Means "son of Paul".
Peerenboom Dutch
From Dutch meaning "pear tree", referring to someone who lived or worked at a pear orchard.
Peeters Dutch, Flemish
Dutch and Flemish variant of Peters.
Pellé French
From French pelé meaning "bald".
Pelletier French
Derived from Old French pelletier "fur trader".
Pelley French
Anglicized form of Pellé.
Penders Dutch
From Middle Dutch paender meaning "brewer", derived from panne meaning "pan, pot", ultimately from Latin patina.
Penners Dutch
Variant of Penders.
Périgord French
From the name of a region in southern France, possibly of Gaulish origin.
Perrault French
From a diminutive of the given name Pierre.
Perreault French
From a diminutive of the given name Pierre.
Perrin French
From a diminutive of the given name Pierre.
Perrot French
From a diminutive of the given name Pierre.
Peter English, German, Dutch
Derived from the given name Peter.
Peters English, German, Dutch
Means "son of Peter".
Petit French, Catalan, English
Means "small, little" derived from Old French and Catalan petit. It was perhaps used for a short, small person or to denote the younger of two individuals.
Peusen Dutch
Derived from the given name Pascal.
Pherigo French
Anglicized form of Périgord.
Philippe French
From the given name Philippe.
Philips English, Dutch
Means "son of Philip". Famous bearers of this surname were Frederick Philips (1830-1900) and his son Gerard (1858-1942), the Dutch founders of the company Philips.
Picard French
Originally denoted a person from Picardy, a historical region of northern France. It is derived from Old French pic meaning "pike, spike".
Pierre French
From the given name Pierre.
Plamondon French
Derived from French plat "flat" and mont "mountain", referring to someone who lived near a flat-topped mountain.
Planche French
French form of Plank.
Planque French
French form of Plank.
Plourde French
Possibly derived from French palourde, a type of a shellfish.
Poirier French
Means "pear tree" in French, originally a nickname for someone who lived close to such a tree.
Poirot French, Literature
From a diminutive of French poire "pear", originally referring to a pear merchant or someone who lived near a pear tree. Starting in 1920 this name was used by the mystery writer Agatha Christie for her Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Christie based the name on that of Jules Poiret, a contemporary fictional detective.
Porcher English, French
Means "swineherd" from Old French and Middle English porchier, from Latin porcus "pig".
Post Dutch, German, English
Indicated a person who lived near a post, ultimately from Latin postis.
Poulin French
Derived from Old French poule meaning "chicken". It was most likely used to denote a person who raised or sold poultry.
Prinsen Dutch
Means "son of the prince", the term prince would have denoted someone who acted in a regal manner.
Proulx French
Derived from Old French preu meaning "valiant, brave".
Rademaker Dutch
From the occupation of rademaker meaning "maker of wheels", from Dutch rad meaning "wheel".
Raine 2 English, French
Derived from a Germanic name that was short for longer names beginning with the element ragin meaning "advice, counsel".
Reinders Dutch, Frisian
From the given name Reindert.
Renard French
From the given name Renard.
Renaud French
From the given name Renaud.
Renault French
Derived from the given name Renaud.
Rey 1 English, Spanish, French, Catalan
Means "king" in Old French, Spanish and Catalan, ultimately from Latin rex (genitive regis), perhaps originally denoting someone who acted like a king.
Reynaud French
From the given name Reynaud.
Richard English, French, German, Dutch
From the given name Richard.
Richelieu French
From the name of the town of Richelieu, derived from French riche "wealthy" and lieu "place". The historic figure Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642), born Armand du Plessis, was so-called because he became the first Duke of Richelieu. He appears in Alexander Dumas' novel The Three Musketeers (1844).
Rietveld Dutch
Means "reed field", from Dutch riet "reed" and veld "field". It is found mostly in the western part of the Netherlands (the Holland area).
Rivière French
French cognate of Rivers.
Robert French, English
From the given name Robert.
Robin French
From the given name Robin.
Roche French
French cognate of Roach.
Roger French
From the given name Roger.
Roggeveen Dutch
Means "rye field" in Dutch. A famous bearer was Jacob Roggeveen (1659-1729), the first European explorer to Easter Island.
Rolland French
From the given name Roland.
Rome French, English
English and French form of Romano 2.
Romeijn Dutch
Derived from the given name Romein.
Romeijnders Dutch
From Dutch Romein meaning "Roman, person from Rome".
Romeijnsen Dutch
Means "son of Romein" in Dutch.
Romijn Dutch
Derived from the given name Romein.
Romijnsen Dutch
Means "son of Romein" in Dutch.
Romilly English, French
Originally denoted a person who came from any of the various places in northern France called Romilly or from Romiley in England.
Rompa Dutch
Variant of Van Rompa.
Rooijakkers Dutch
Means "red field", from Dutch rood "red" and akker "field".
Roosa Dutch
From Dutch roos meaning "rose".
Roosevelt Dutch
Means "rose field" from Dutch roos "rose" and veld "field". This was the surname of American presidents Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945).
Rose 1 English, French, German, Jewish
Means "rose" from Middle English, Old French and Middle High German rose, all from Latin rosa. All denote a person of a rosy complexion or a person who lived in an area abundant with roses. As a Jewish surname it is ornamental, from Yiddish רויז (roiz).
Rousseau French
Diminutive of Roux. A famous bearer was the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) whose ideas influenced the French Revolution.
Roussel French
French form of Russell.
Roux French
Derived from Old French ros meaning "red", from Latin russus, a nickname for a red-haired person.
Royer French
From French roue meaning "wheel", ultimately from Latin rota, an occupational name for a wheelwright.
Rutgers Dutch
Derived from the given name Rutger.
Rutten Dutch
Derived from the given name Rutger.
Ryskamp Dutch
Meaning unknown, probably ending with Dutch kamp meaning "camp".
Salmon English, French
Derived from the given name Solomon.
Salomon French, German, Jewish
Derived from the given name Salomon or Salomo.
Samson English, French
Derived from the given name Samson.
Samuel English, Welsh, French, Jewish
Derived from the given name Samuel.
Sartre French
French cognate of Sarto. A famous bearer was the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980).
Sault French
French cognate of Soto.
Sauvage French
French form of Savage.
Sauvageau French
French diminutive form of Savage.
Sauvageon French
French diminutive form of Savage.
Sauvageot French
French diminutive form of Savage.
Sauveterre French
From the name of various towns in France, derived from French sauve "safe" and terre "land".
Savatier French
From Old French savatier "shoemaker", derived from savate "shoe", of uncertain ultimate origin.
Schenk German, Dutch
From Middle High German, Middle Dutch schenke meaning "wine server" (from Old High German scenken "to pour out").
Schermer Dutch, Low German
Dutch and Low German form of Schirmer.
Schipper Dutch
Occupational name meaning "skipper, ship captain" in Dutch.
School Dutch
From Dutch school, ultimately from Latin schola meaning "school", indicating a person who worked at or lived near a school.
Schoorl Dutch
Originally indicated a person from the town of Schoorl in the province of Noord-Holland in the Netherlands. It means "forest by the shore" in Dutch.
Schorel Dutch
Variant of Schoorl.
Schouten Dutch
Occupational name derived from Middle Dutch schout meaning "sheriff, bailiff".
Schrijnemakers Dutch
Occupational name for a cabinet maker, from Dutch schrijn "box, container" and maker "maker".
Schuyler Dutch
Possibly a Dutch form of Schuler.
Seegers Dutch
Means "son of Sieger".
Seelen Dutch
Variant of Ceelen.
Segal 2 French
Occupational name for a grower or seller of rye, from Old French, from Latin secale "rye".
Segers Dutch
Means "son of Sieger".
Seghers Dutch
Means "son of Sieger".
Sergeant English, French
Occupational name derived from Old French sergent meaning "servant", ultimately from Latin servire "to serve".
Severijns Dutch
Derived from the Latin given name Severinus.
Séverin French
Derived from the given name Séverin.
Severins Dutch
Derived from the Latin given name Severinus.
Sevriens Dutch
Derived from the Latin given name Severinus.
Simon English, French, German, Dutch, Hungarian, Jewish
Derived from the given name Simon 1.
Simonis Dutch
Means "son of Simon 1".
Slootmaekers Dutch, Flemish
Occupational name for a locksmith, from Dutch slot "lock" and maker "maker".
Smeets Dutch
Variant of Smit.
Smets Dutch
Variant of Smit.
Smit Dutch
From Middle Dutch smit "metalworker, blacksmith", a cognate of Smith.
Smits Dutch
Variant of Smit.
Snaaijer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Snaijer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Sneiders Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Sneijder Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Sneijders Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Sneijer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Sneijers Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Snel Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snell.
Snijder Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Snijders Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Soucy French
Originally denoted someone from French towns by this name in Aisne or Yonne, both derived from the Latin name Suciacum.
Sourd French
French cognate of Sordi.
Spijker 1 Dutch
Denoted a dweller by or worker at a granary, from Dutch spijker "granary".
Spijker 2 Dutch
Occupational name for a nailsmith, from Dutch spijker "nail".
Spiker Dutch
Americanized form of Spijker 1 or Spijker 2.
St Martin French
From a place named for Saint Martin.
St Pierre French
From a French place named for Saint Peter.
Tailler French
Means "tailor" from Old French tailleur.
Tasse French
From Old French tasse "purse, bag", an occupational name for a maker or seller of purses.
Ter Avest Dutch
Means "at the edge, eave" indicating a person who lived at the edge of a forest or under a covered shelter.
Teunissen Dutch
Means "son of Teunis".
Thayer French (Anglicized)
Americanized form of Tailler.
Theunissen Dutch
Means "son of Theunis".
Thibault French
Derived from the given name Thibault.
Thomas English, Welsh, French, German
Derived from the given name Thomas.
Tillens Flemish
From the old Dutch name Tiel, a medieval diminutive of Dietrich.
Traver French
French variant of Travers.
Travere French
French variant of Travers.
Travers English, French
From an English and French place name that described a person who lived near a bridge or ford, or occasionally as an occupational name for the collector of tolls at such a location. The place name is derived from Old French traverser (which comes from Late Latin transversare), which means "to cross".
Traverse French
French variant of Travers.
Travert French
French variant of Travers.
Tremblay French
From French tremble meaning "aspen". It is especially widespread in Quebec, being the most common surname there.
Tunison Dutch (Anglicized)
Americanized form of Teunissen.
Valentin French, German
From the given name Valentin.
Van Aalsburg Dutch
Means "from Aalsburg", which is possibly Adelsburg, composed of adal "noble" and burg "fortress".
Van Aarle Dutch
Variant of Aarle.
Van Aggelen Dutch
Denoted someone from Aggelen, which could refer to Achel in the Belgian province of Limburg or Egchel in the Dutch province of Limburg.
Van Agteren Dutch
Means "from behind", probably referring to a place behind something, such as a building or a place at the end of the road.
Van Aller Dutch
Means "from the Aller", a river in Germany, of uncertain meaning.
Van Alphen Dutch
Means "from Alphen", a town in the Netherlands. It is derived from the name of the Roman fort Albaniana, itself from Latin albus "white".
Van Alst Dutch
Means "from Aalst", the name of towns in Belgium and the Netherlands, which is possibly from Germanic *alhs meaning "temple, shelter".
Van Althuis Dutch
Dutch cognate of Althaus.
Van Amelsvoort Dutch
Means "from Amersfoort", a city in the Netherlands. It means "ford of the Amer (Eem) River" in Dutch.
Van Amstel Dutch
Means "from Amstel", a Dutch river that means "water area".
Van Andel Dutch
Means "from Andel", a town in the Netherlands, possibly meaning "upper forest" in Old Dutch.
Van Ankeren Dutch
Means "from the anchor" in Dutch.
Van Antwerp Dutch
Means "from Antwerp", a city in Belgium.
Van As Dutch
Means "from Asch", a town in the Netherlands, meaning "ash tree".
Van Asch Dutch
Variant of Van As.
Van Assen Dutch
Means "from Assen", a city in the Netherlands, which is possibly from essen meaning "ash trees".
Van Baarle Dutch
Means "from Baarle", a town in both the Netherlands and Belgium.
Van Beek Dutch
Means "from the creek" in Dutch.
Van Bokhoven Dutch
Means "from Bokhoven", a small town in the province of Noord-Brabant in the Netherlands. It means "goat yards" in Dutch.
Van Breda Dutch
Means "from Breda", a city in the province of Noord-Brabant in the Netherlands. It is derived from Dutch breed meaning "wide" and Aa, the name of a river.
Van Buggenum Dutch
Means "from Buggenum", a small town in the middle of the province of Limburg in the Netherlands.
Van Buren Dutch
Means "from Buren", a small town on the island of Ameland in the north of the Netherlands, as well as a small city in the Dutch province Gelderland. The place names derive from Old Dutch bur meaning "house, dwelling". In the 16th century the countess Anna van Buren married William of Orange, the founder of the Dutch royal family. A famous bearer of this surname was Martin van Buren (1782-1862), the eighth President of the United States.
Van Can Dutch
Variant of Van Kan.
Van Dalen Dutch
Means "from the valley", from Old Dutch dal meaning "valley".
Van Dam Dutch
Means "from the dam" in Dutch.
Van Damme Flemish
Means "from Damme", the name of a town in Belgium, derived from Dutch dam meaning "dam". A famous bearer is the Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme (1960-), who was born with the surname Van Varenberg.
Van den Akker Dutch
Means "from the field" in Dutch.
Van den Berg Dutch
Means "from the mountain", derived from Dutch berg meaning "mountain".
Van den Brink Dutch
Means "from the village center" in Dutch.
Van den Broek Dutch
Means "from the marsh" in Dutch.
Van den Heuvel Dutch
Means "from the hill" in Dutch.
Van der Aart Dutch
Means "from the earth", derived from Dutch aarde "earth". It perhaps referred to either an earth bank or to a farmer.
Van Der Heijden Dutch
Means "from the heathland" in Dutch.
Van der Linden Dutch
Means "from the linden trees", from Dutch linde meaning "linden tree".
Van der Meer Dutch
Means "from the lake" in Dutch.
Van der Stoep Dutch
Means "from the paved entrance", from Dutch stoep meaning "paved porch at the entrance to a house".
Van der Veen Dutch
Means "from the swamp", from Dutch veen meaning "fen, swamp, peat". It originally indicated a person who resided in a peat district or fen colony.
Van der Wal Dutch
Means "from the wall" in Dutch.
Van der Zee Dutch
Means "from the sea" in Dutch. The original bearer may have been someone who lived on the coast.
Van de Vliert Dutch
Means "from the elderberry" in Dutch.
Van Dijk Dutch
Means "from the dike" in Dutch.
Van Donk Dutch
Means "from the hill", derived from Dutch donk meaning "(sandy) hill".
Vandroogenbroeck Flemish
Means "from the dry marsh" in Dutch. The city of Brussels was built on dry marshes.
Van Gogh Dutch
Means "from Goch", a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, near the border with the Netherlands. It may be derived from a Low German word meaning "meadow, floodplain". This name was borne by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890).
Van Hassel Dutch
Means "from Hassel", a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It may be derived from Old Dutch hasal meaning "hazel tree".
Van Heel Dutch
Means "from Heel", a small town in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands.
Van Herten Dutch
Means "from Herten", a small town in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands. The town's name comes from Dutch herten, the plural of hert meaning "deer".
Van Hofwegen Dutch
Means "from Hofwegen", a town in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands, itself derived from Dutch hof "garden, courtyard" and weg "way, path, road".
Van Hoorn Dutch
Dutch form of Horn.
Van Horn Dutch
Dutch form of Horn.
Van Houten Dutch
Means "from forests", derived from Dutch hout "forest".
Van Kan Dutch
Means "from Kanne", a town in the province of Limburg in Belgium. The meaning of the town's name is unknown.