Surname Cornelissen - Meaning and Origin

Cornelissen: What does the surname Cornelissen mean?

The surname Cornelissen is a Dutch patronymic surname, originating from the given name Cornelis, derived from the Latin cornelius, meaning "horn" or "cornet". The use of surnames in the Netherlands began in the late 13th century, when surnames were adopted in order to define a single individual from a larger family or group; the practice became more widespread during the 15th century. Cornelissen means "son of Cornelis", and indicates that the original bearer of the surname was the son of someone with the given name Cornelis.

Nowadays, the surname Cornelissen is quite common throughout the Netherlands and former Dutch territories; even in places such as Mexico, the Cornelissen surname is present, as Dutch immigrants to the country during the 17th and 18th centuries carried their surnames with them.

Generally, the surname implies two distinct and distinctively Dutch cultural values: first, that of close-knit family structure, and second, the value placed on the father's name. Coming from a Dutch-speaking origin, those with the Cornelissen surname can trace their roots back to the time when surnames emerged, and, while it is now a common name, it remains steeped in the Dutch tradition of family and the reverence of one's father's name.

Cornelissen: Where does the name Cornelissen come from?

Today, the last name Cornelissen is most common in The Netherlands, as well as in Belgium, Germany, and France. In The Netherlands, it is most abundant in the provinces of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe. It is also quite prevalent in the Netherlands' coastal cities, such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht.

Cornelissen is also present in Germany, primarily in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It can also be found in some other parts of Germany as well, such as Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Brandenburg.

Outside of Europe, the name is also quite common in countries with significant Dutch immigrant populations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The name Cornelissen is derived from the Latin word ‘cornelius’, meaning ‘horn’. It has since been used as a surname throughout Europe and has become increasingly common over time due to population growth as well as intermarriage and immigration.

Interestingly, Cornelissen is also present in small numbers in African countries such as Rwanda, DR Congo, and Namibia. It is unclear how it has spread to these countries but it likely reflects the colonization history of Europe.

Variations of the surname Cornelissen

The Cornelissen surname has a few variants and spellings including Cornelisse, Cornelissen, Cornelisson, Kornelissen and Kornelius. All of these variants and spellings are derived from the same surname and have the same origin.

Cornelissen is a Dutch surname meaning “son of Cornelis”. The name Cornelis comes from the Latin root “cornu” meaning “horn”. This is likely due to the original bearer having a curved nose, possibly from his upbringing or life circumstances. Thus, the name translates to “son of the horned one”.

Other surnames derived from Cornelissen include Cornelison, Kornelissen and Kornelius. These are the same basic WASP-3 surnames, just with a different spelling.

The variants of the Cornelissen name, in all its spellings, have been in use in the Netherlands since medieval times. Today, the Cornelissen surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking regions of the world, such as Belgium, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. It is also fairly common in the United States, where it is believed to have been brought over by settlers during the 19th century.

The Cornelissen surname is fairly uncommon, as is the case with variants of the same name. However, with the growth of technology it is now easier to track down and find people of the same name and same origin.

Famous people with the name Cornelissen

• Sabrina Cornelissen: Dutch windsurfing gold medalist
• Jelle Cornelissen: Dutch footballer
• Bart Cornelissen: Dutch politician
• Jan Cornelissen: Dutch scientific director
• Dirk Cornelissen: Dutch aviation and space engineer
• Jan Jaap Cornelissen: Dutch minister
• Ton Cornelissen: Dutch archaeologist
• Willem Cornelissen: Dutch footballer
• Bas Cornelissen: Dutch sporter and entrepreneur
• Luuk Cornelissen: Dutch footballer
• Rudi Cornelissen: Belgian footballer
• Stan Cornelissen: Dutch volleyball player
• Jacky Cornelissen: Dutch para-cyclist
• Bob Cornelissen: Dutch footballer
• Jenny Cornelissen: Dutch politician
• Will Cornelissen: Dutch television presenter
• Gijs Cornelissen: Dutch author
• Sarah Cornelissen: South African actress
• Ruben Cornelissen: Dutch painter
• Dave Cornelissen: Dutch surfer

Other surnames

CornelisCornelisenCornelisse