ten Holt Family name History

The German family name Ten Holt is classified as being of habitation name origin. When family names are defined as "habitation" in origin they refer us to the residence or home of the progenitor or founder of the family. The name may indicate that the original bearer displayed a sing or engraving over the door of this residence or it may tell us that this person's residence was located in a particular town or village or indeed that it was located by some distinguishing geographical or topographical feature. The family name Ten Holt is derived from the low German terms "tom" meaning "of the, from" and "holt" meaning "wood, woody area and forest". Thus the original bearer of the name lived near a forest or held land, that could be described in such a manner. Variants of the surname Ten Holt include Tenholt, Tomholt, van den Hout and van Holten. One of the earliest references to this name is a record of the wedding of Theodrus TenHolt and Aleidis Clessen, which was registered in Emmerich in the Rhineland in 1695. Their son Anthonius TenHolt was christened on August 1, 1696 in the catholic church of Emmerich. However this name might have been recorded even earlier than the date mentioned above. According to scholars it was not until the sixteenth century that hereditary surnames were univerally in use in Germany although the process first began in the middle of the twelfth century. further references include a record of the baptism of August Ludwig Paul TenHolt, the son of August TenHolt and Anna Schulte, which was documented on November 13, 1872 in Burgsteinfurt in Westphalia. This name was intrduced to America in its variant of TenHoute as early as 1662 through the emigration of Souverain TenHoute, who came to New Netherlands (New Jersey).Blazon of Arms: Gules, on a mound of three vert five trees or, two larger ones between three smaller ones.Crest: Issuing from a crown five trees of the same height, all or.Source ref: Siebmacher's Wappenbuch, Bg 9 59Origin: Germany