SiTU MEMO 10

First and last names have the tendecy to shrink or transform over time. “Hendrik” leads to Hendry and later Henry. In the Netherlands having a last name became compulsory during the French occupation in 1815. This was an excellent possibility to create a new family-concept. Some made their names longer bij putting “van der” before their occupation, for instance being a miller, their family name was noted as “van der Molen”, some called themselves “King” or even “Fart”. Some of those “funny names” still survive and flourish. The job was done by civil servants, who visited every house in the Republic. As a local story goes many Frisians have “Dutch” (Hollands) as their second language. This led sometimes to complete misunderstanding. A farmerswife misunderstood the question completely and answered “Wurkjindewei”. Meaning “my husband is working on the land”.

This is wat the civil servant noted.

A second cause of change are mass-migrations. In the United States you see the names, change when they pas through customs. “van der Molen” becomes “Vandermolen”.

The history of some names are bizar. The president of the United States last name OBAMA, has Dutch-Frisian roots. Obbema is the name of a Dutch peppermint trader, who produces several ofspring in Africa, with local wifes. Obbema Obama, simple as that. Names travel all around the world. In our developing nulti-media world, your name makes you unique. What's in a name? A rock to build on.