Surname de Witte - Meaning and Origin

de Witte: What does the surname de Witte mean?

The last name de Witte is derived from the Dutch language and translates to mean “the white one.” This name was likely originally given to people with light hair or skin. It can also refer to someone who was surprisingly light-hearted, cheerful, and unassuming.

Many people of the Dutch, Flemish, and French cultures bearing this surname originated in the area of Flanders in modern day Belgiam and Northern France. It is thought to have first been assumed as a hereditary surname in the 13th century.

The de Witte surname is also recorded in the Low Countries of Germany, Luxembourg, and parts of Switzerland. The de Witte roots have now spread to South Africa, Canada, and parts of the United States.

Today, there are several variants of the de Witte name including de Witt, van de Witte, and Witte. It is also sometimes found in its anglicized form – White.

The most common de Witte coat of arms consists of a black shield that shows a white footprint, indicating that one with the de Witte name is of noble birth. Specifically, the footprint represents loyalty to the home and family.

de Witte: Where does the name de Witte come from?

The surname de Witte is mainly found today in The Netherlands, where it is the tenth most popular surname. It is also relatively common in Belgium, where it ranks around fifty most popular surnames. A notable variation of this surname is de Wit, which is widespread in South Africa.

In non-Dutch speaking countries, the surname de Witte is less common, but can be found in large concentrations in certain areas of Germany, Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Especially in northern Germany and the northeastern parts of the Netherlands, a lot of people have the name de Witte due to historical contact between the two regions.

The surname is derived from the Dutch/German word "white", referring to light hair or complexion. In The Netherlands, the name often got added as an extra name after someone's first/family name reflected someone's complexion (e.g. Wouter de Witte).

Given its common formulation as a second name in The Netherlands, it is likely that the variations of de Witte still in existence today are ancestral lines instead of one single surname of origin. This makes it difficult to determine where exactly de Witte is most common today.

Variations of the surname de Witte

The surname De Witte is of Dutch origin and is most commonly found in the Netherlands, Belgium and the former Dutch East Indies. The variants and spellings of the name are numerous and include:

* Dewitte

* Dewitt

* De Wit

* De Witte

* De Witt

* De Wittte

* De Wytt

* Dewet

* Dewiet

* Dewite

* Dewyte

* Dywet

* Dywitte

* Dywitt

* Dywytte

* Twitte

* Witt

* Wit

* Wytt

* Wytte.

Surnames of similar origin are De Vos, De Jong, Van Dijk, De Graaf, Van Der Vliet, De Vries, De Ruiter, De Rooij, De Groot, De Boer and De Bakker.

De Witte may also be used as a first name, although it is more common as a surname. The name is derived from the Dutch word witte, meaning white, and has been interpreted to mean white-haired or pale complexion. It is also sometimes used in honour of the Christian Saint Witte or Beatrix van der Witten.

Many people who share the surname De Witte are related, as this surname originated with a single family. With such a widespread origin, the name De Witte may be found in countries all over the world, from the Netherlands to Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Famous people with the name de Witte

• Guy De Witte: A Belgian artist known for his figurative paintings, installations, and sculptures.
• Patricia De Witte: A professional mountain biker who competes internationally.
• Philippe De Witte: A professional footballer who plays for Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League.
• Tristan de Witte: A French contemporary artist who utilizes multiple mediums including sculpture and drawing.
• Willem de Witte: A 17th-century Dutch painter born in Haarlem known for his portraits and biblical-themed paintings.
• Hugo De Witte: A Belgian jazz trumpet player and composer primarily active in the 1990s.
• Jan De Witte: A Flemish engraver active in the late 16th/early 17th centuries.
• Ben De Witte: A Dutch art historian and professor at Leiden University.
• Jean-Michel De Witte: A Belgian sculptor widely admired for his public sculptures.
• Peter De Witte:Professor of electrical engineering at Ghent University who specializes in radar image analysis and signal processing.

Other surnames

de WitDe Witt