VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
Also recorded as Van Der Westhuizen, Vander Westhuizen, Vanderwesthuizen, vander Westhuizen
Van Der Westhuizen
The surname Van Der Westhuizen is of Dutch origin and can be traced back to the 17th century. It is a compound surname, typical of Dutch naming conventions, which includes the preposition "Van Der" meaning "from the" followed by the family name Westhuizen.
Westhuizen is a toponymic surname derived from a place name in the Netherlands, specifically from the region of Utrecht. The name Westhuizen can be broken down into two parts, "West" which indicates a westerly direction, and "huizen" which means houses or dwellings. Therefore, the name could suggest that the original bearers of this surname were associated with a cluster of houses situated to the west of a particular location.
The name Van Der Westhuizen is not common in the United Kingdom, but it gained some prominence due to the immigration of South Africans of Dutch descent to Britain, especially during the 20th century. One notable bearer of this surname is the former South African rugby player and coach, Rassie Erasmus, whose full name is Johan Erasmus Van Der Westhuizen.
In conclusion, the surname Van Der Westhuizen is a unique and distinguished name that reflects Dutch ancestry and has become a part of the British cultural landscape through migration and cultural exchange.
There are approximately 358 people named van der Westhuizen in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around five in a million people in Britain are named van der Westhuizen.