This post has been edited to correct errors!! I will continue to do so as necessary.
Just for fun I thought I’d post the Dutch surnames that pop up in my family tree.
- Zuidweg or Zuijdweg
- DeKorn or DeKorne
- Peek or Paak
- VanLiere (this one is not a direct ancestor, but we have relatives in the United States)
- Mulder
- Gorsse
- Bomhoff
- Hijman or Heijman
- Vandewalle
- Boes
- Bataille
- Van Nek
- Bassa
- den Besten
- Kriger
- Remijinse or Remine (this name is one ancestor line, but is also more recently by marriage)
- Engelse
- De Jonge
- Kole
- Stroosnijder
- Antonisse
- Van den Berger
- Cornaaij
- Swedijks
- Machiels or Pieters
Only a few of these surnames are found on lists of common Dutch names.
Mulder is on every list as it means miller.
My grandmother told me that Remijinse is a name which originally came to the family from Spain.
Zuidweg, meaning south way, also might have similar origins–it’s unclear. The results of my 23andme test does show that I have Spanish ancestry, and the likely source would be the Spaniards that left Spain at the time of the Inquisition and made their way to Holland.
When I visited the Netherlands, a man told me that DeKorn meant that the first DeKorn came to the Netherlands from Switzerland.
Yvette Hoitink has another idea. This is what she wrote about the name:
Boudewijn de Corne (sr.) was called De Corne and De Kooren. “De” is the Dutch word for “The” but can also be the French word for “From.” Since “Corne” is not a Dutch word and “Kooren” (corn) would have a different article (“het” instead of “de”), a French origin is possible. One possible explanation for the name is that the family originated in a place called Corné. A village called Corné is located near Angers [on map it’s located in western France]. A lot of French Huguenots came to the province of Zeeland in the period after the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685.
Yvette’s theory fits with the family story I heard very often that we were descended from French Huguenots.
The Family Kalamazoo 
In spite of having Dutch family from Grand Rapids, I see no overlapping names in my tree… my most common names are Zuidema and Holwerda 🙂
Jenny, it’s starting to amaze me how many Dutch surnames there are for such a small country! I haven’t seen those names pop up yet, but who know, they still could haha!
That is really so interesting. I like the idea that you have all these names in your family tree. I’m always amazed that family stories often contradict each other.
Can you imagine how many surnames are in our histories if we had all the information? It’s fascinating!
And yes, they do contradict each other sometimes! I’ve been working on making a list of the family stories, etc. which I am either verifying or not!!
I loved all those names! De Jonge is one I see a lot in West Michigan.
Well, that’s cool. Maybe they are sorta relatives :).
I’m just impressed that you’ve been able to go so far back in your family tree. The farthest we’ve been able to go so far is the late 1700s.
For the really far back one, somebody in the family hired a genealogist quite some time ago and they followed that line back that far. I’d be interested in having it verified by more work done on it, though.
I think my mom would benefit from hiring a professional genealogist. She’s been trying so hard to find some crucial documents to confirm a father/son relationship from the Rev War & keeps hitting a wall. Genealogy is such a fascinating & never ending treasure hunt. 😀
Luanne, I called your father, this last week and it was so nice to talk to him, he was amazed at how much I knew about Ramona and told me that I knew more than he did. That was cute, but it was very nice to have talked to him, thank you for that. I am gonna stop by your parents house one of these days soon, as he stated he would like very much to see my book I have started putting
together, especially all my photos. I also wanted to comment to you on the steamboat picture you have, and I am pretty sure that was Mr. Denner steamboat on Long Lake, he would come around in the summers to give
people and children rides around the lake. Have you heard the story about the 20 foot Sea Serpent on long lake back in Henry Waruf’s day? Well it was a true story, and when the sea serpent scared the lake residence so bad, after two appearances, he retired it and built the steam boat. But thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to chat with your father and to meet him face to face in the next couple of weeks, so take care, enjoy reading your stories, and keep up the good luck with your future genealogy finds. All my best, Paula Taylor
Paula,
My father said he talked to you. I’m so glad that happened! I hadn’t heard about the Sea Serpent, although the rumor when I was there that there were monsters like the Loch Ness in the drop-off that was right in front of the pavilion. Must be where the rumor came from! Oh my! Keep in mind I will post any pieces you want to write about Ramona on the blog, if you’re willing! Best wishes, Luanne
I will email you the story on the Sea Serpent, but, it happened on the East side of the lake like right across the lake from the beach, once you read it feel free to print it on your blog its public knowledge. Talking to your Father was my pleasure. All my best, Paula
Paula, yes, definitely email it to me and I will publish it on the blog!!! I can’t wait!
I am new to this blog, and I have found in my geneology Mulder, Gorsse, Vandewalle, Boes, and Bataille. I do nbot know who I am related to in this thread but seems like must be a child of Ruth Gerow, I Cora Mulder is their grandmother. I would love some info!
I am new to this blog. I have in my genealogy, Mulder, Gorsse, Vandewalle, Boes and Batwaille. My grandmother was Ruth Gerow (Mulder), daughter of Cora Mulder. If anyone can tell me how I am related, please let me know!
Hi Lisa, Wow, that’s exciting. Cora was my great-grandfather’s little sister. I knew Ruth’s sister Eleanor, but don’t know if I met Ruth or not. Email me? Luanne[dot]castle[at]gmail.com