🇳🇱 Netherlands · Dutch
Netherlands Family Tree
Dutch genealogy benefits from excellent civil registration starting in 1811 under Napoleonic rule. Church records and notarial archives extend records back much further.
Netherlands naming patterns
When Napoleon required fixed surnames in 1811, many Dutch families chose descriptive or humorous names, not expecting the requirement to stick. This is why some Dutch surnames seem unusual (de Groot = the great, de Jong = the young).
Common Netherlands surnames
Where to find Netherlands records
- WieWasWie.nl
- OpenArch.nl (free)
- FamilySearch Netherlands
- Ancestry Netherlands
- Delpher.nl (newspapers)
Migration history
Dutch emigration was significant in the 17th century (New Amsterdam/New York) and again in the post-WWII period, primarily to Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
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