Surname Brandjes - Meaning and Origin

Brandjes: What does the surname Brandjes mean?

The last name Brandjes is a Dutch toponymic name, meaning “from Brand”, referring to someone from a place named Brand. It likely comes from the Old Dutch brand, which means “burning” or “fire” and was traditionally used to describe areas of open land cleared by fire.

Brandjes is a more specific toponymic, for it is derived from Brandje, which was a type of settlement found just outside of main towns in the region. Brandjes were influenced by both the Dutch and German cultures, and so western elements, such as surnames, were common among them.

The surname is incredibly common in the Netherlands and was also found in various German and Dutch colonies over the centuries, such as in colonial South Africa. In the United States, it is most commonly found in areas where Dutch people settled, such as New York, Iowa, and Minnesota.

In modern times, people with the surname Brandjes come from all walks of life and can be of Dutch, German, or even American descent. Whether someone finds themselves in an urban center like New York City or a rural Dutch village, the Brandjes surname continues to be a prominent part of many family trees.

Brandjes: Where does the name Brandjes come from?

The last name Brandjes is common mostly throughout the Netherlands and Dutch influenced countries. Many people first bearing the name Brandjes settled in the Dutch province of Gelderland during the Middle Ages, and for this reason it is considered to be a typical Dutch name. Over time, the surname has spread overseas with Dutch settlers establishing communities in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and other parts of the world.

Since Brandjes is a common Dutch surname, records of this name exist in the Dutch civil registration system. According to Netherlands Civil Registration, there were 4,347 people with this last name as of the end of 2018. This is up from 3,674 people in the last records taken at the end of 2016. In terms of the Netherlands distribution, people with the last name Brandjes make up 0.06 percent of the total population of the Netherlands.

Outside of the Netherlands, people with the last name Brandjes can be found in Dutch influenced countries like Canada, the United States, and South Africa. In Canada, Brandjes is the 5,578th most common last name and is found in just 0.027% of the population. In the United States, it is found in 0.005 percent of the population, making it the 7,420th most common last name. Lastly, in South Africa, Brandjes is the 9,199th most common name and is found in just 0.001% of the population.

Variations of the surname Brandjes

Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Brandjes have been found throughout Europe, and include; Brandish, Brandishius, Branndish, Brandjesch, Brandishiusz, Brandishs, Brandishiuszs, Brandisch, Brandischius, Brandiss, Brandescu, Brandess, Brandishuis, Branndesh, Brandishui, Brandischer, Brandusche, Brandeusch, Brandesky, Brander, Brandyss, Brandscher and Brandeis.

Brandjes, along with its many variants and spellings, can be traced back to the 12th century in Europe, and is derived from the Middle Dutch word 'brand' meaning 'fire'. This suggests that the name originally belonged to someone associated with fire in some way, such as a blacksmith or a guard of a fire tower or castle.

The many variants and spellings of the surname are found primarily in the Netherlands, as well as Germany and Belgium. Brandjes may also be found in Canada, where it is a very common and popular surname.

Brandjes-related surnames carry various meanings, from 'smoke', to 'guard', to 'candlelight', among others. Surnames such as Brandish and Brandescu come from the Middle English word 'Brandish', meaning 'to hold a torch aloft', and from the Bulgarian/Romanian word 'brand', meaning 'candlelight'.

The Brandjes surname and its variations have certainly travelled a long way since the 12th century. The many variants and spellings of the surname found across Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, can be traced back to its ancient origins and meanings.

Famous people with the name Brandjes

• Harmen Brandjes- a former Dutch sprinter who was part of the 4x400 meter relay team at the 1972 Summer Olympics, and later became a coach
• Bas Brandjes- a Dutch association footballer who plays in the Dutch third tier as a midfielder
• Richard Brandjes- a Dutch footballer and coach who won the 2004 KNVB Cup final as manager of Utrecht
• Willem Brandjes- a Dutch football goalkeeper who made four appearances for the Netherlands national team in the 1980s
• Karen Brandjes- a Dutch singer who achieved success in the late 1980s and early 1990s and represented the Netherlands in the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest
• Arjen Brandjes- a Dutch swimmer and field hockey player who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics
• Jilles Brandjes- a Dutch speed skater who won a silver medal at the 1956 European Allround Speed Skating Championships, and a bronze at the 1956 World Allround Speed Skating Championships
• Ludi Brandjes- a Dutch footballer who played as a forward for a number of clubs in the Netherlands, including FC Volendam, HFC Haarlem and Fortuna Sittard
• Jeroen Brandjes- a Dutch fencer who competed in the modern pentathlon at the 1992 Summer Olympics
• Annelies Brandjes- a Dutch track cyclist who won two gold medals and a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Paralympics

Other surnames

Brandjen