Surname Leijdekker - Meaning and Origin
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Leijdekker: What does the surname Leijdekker mean?
The surname Leijdekker is of Dutch origin and is thought to derive from the Dutch name "Leidmaker" or “Leijbreader," which is occupational in nature and loosely translates to mean a “one who leads” or a “bread maker.”
The earliest records of the Leijdekker surname dates back to the mid 1500s where they were found in bible records from Amsterdam. The most widely used spelling of the name Leijdekker appeared in the 1700s and 1800s in various Dutch records.
The Leijdekker surname belonged to individuals from varying backgrounds. Those from an upper-class background could be found in the court records of cities. Lower-class individuals, meanwhile, were more likely to be found in church and census records.
Over the centuries, the name Leijdekker has expanded into the Dutch diaspora and can now be found in other countries such as The United States, Argentina, and Australia.
The meaning of the surname has stood the test of time, and still evokes images of leadership, hard work, and ambition. As a result of their strong work ethic, many Leijdekker's have fulfilled their legacy of leading and achieved success in many fields. They are to be commended for their courage and the active role they have taken in their families, communities, and countries.
Order DNA origin analysisLeijdekker: Where does the name Leijdekker come from?
The last name Leijdekker is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. This Germanic surname, thought to date back to the 17th century, is believed to mean “mound,” referring to a pile of earth or a wood. The numerous variant spellings of the name, such as Leideman and Leijsman, are also found in the Netherlands.
The Leijdekkers of today are mostly descendants of early Dutch emigrants who took the surname with them when they emigrated to the United States in the 19th century. In the US, the Leijdekker surname can be found scattered across the country, but with larger concentrations in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and California.
In the Netherlands, the name Leijdekker is still quite popular. Records show it is currently the 23rd most common name in the country. It is especially common in the province of Friesland, where the name was first recorded in 1686. It is also common in Utrecht, Noord-Holland, and Zeeland.
The Leijdekker surname has been found in various records of Dutch history, from tax records and civil registrations to church records. The name has also been found in records from other countries where Leijdekkers have more recently settled, such as Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
Today, the surname Leijdekker could be found in nearly every Dutch-speaking region, from the United States to the Netherlands, as well as surrounding countries. It is a common name throughout the world that serves as a reminder of one family’s centuries-long immigration history.
Variations of the surname Leijdekker
The surname Leijdekker is an occupational name originating from a person who worked as a leather tanner. Its variants vary in spelling and include Lei(j)dekker, Leid(e)kker, Leijd(e)cker, Leijdekkers, and Laydekker. The name is common in the Netherlands, where it is spelled Leijdekker, and in the Netherlands Antilles and former Dutch colonies such as Curacao and Suriname where it may appear spelled as Laydekker.
The patronymic variant of the name is Leijdekkers, meaning the son of a leather tanner. The patronymic of this name is actually formed from the original spelling of the occupational name Leijdekker. This is a Dutch custom of adding the suffix -s to a father's name to denote "son of" the father. As such, the name Leijdekkers can be found in many Dutch-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname Leijdekker include Laidakker, Laidekker, Laidekkers, Lei(j) degener, Lei(j)dekker, Leideckers, Leidegger, Leijd(e)cker, Leijd(e)kkers, and Leijdegers. Other spellings stemming from the original meaning of the name are Leydenkker, Laydkegel, Laidek, Leidekker, and Leijdenkker. The name is found in many parts of the world, from the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles, to areas such as Germany, France, Poland, Suriname, and South Africa.
In conclusion, the surname Leijdekker has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that can be found in many places all over the world. These variants are based on the original meaning of the name, denoting a person who worked as a leather tanner.
Famous people with the name Leijdekker
- Piet Leijdekker: a Dutch actor, director, and voice actor best known for his voice work on the 1978 Dutch version of The Snowman.
- François Leijdekker: a Dutch author, broadcaster, and author who wrote several detective novels and plays as well as the Dutch versions of The Avengers, The Young Ones, and The A-Team.
- Mark Leijdekker: a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays for Dutch side FC Groningen. He has previously played for Heracles Almelo, FC Eindhoven, and FC Utrecht.
- Legi Leijdekker: a Dutch cycling coach and trainer who has worked with several professional cycling teams including the Rabobank, Team Argos–Shimano, and BMC Racing Team.
- Jan Leijdekker: a Dutch mathematician and physicist who is known for his work on Unified field Theory, an attempt to unify the four forces of the universe into a single field.
- Jac Leijdekker: a Dutch marine biologist whose work focuses on the ecology of coral reefs and the effects of human activity on aquatic ecosystems.
- Marloes Leijdekker: a Dutch fencing coach and competitor who has represented her country at the Olympic Games in both the individual and team events.
- Muriël Leijdekker: a Dutch triple jumper and sprinter who has represented her country at the Olympic Games and held the national record for the triple jump from 2003 to 2005.