Surname Voorhess - Meaning and Origin
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Voorhess: What does the surname Voorhess mean?
The surname Voorhess is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Dutch words "voor" meaning "for" or "fore," and "hees" denoting a wooded area. Thus, the name Voorhees can be interpreted as "from the forest" or "in front of the forest." The name was typically given to persons who dwelled at or near a forest. The name can also be seen as a reference to someone who lived near a particular forest known as Hees, which existed in various parts of the Netherlands. Furthermore, numerous spelling variations of the surname can be found, including Voorhis, Van Voorhees, and Van Voorhies, among others. Voorhees became more widely recognized in popular culture as the surname of the fictional character Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th series.
Order DNA origin analysisVoorhess: Where does the name Voorhess come from?
The last name Voorhess is a relatively rare name today, however, it is believed to have originated in Northern Europe and is particularly concentrated in Netherlands. In the United States, the last name Voorhess is found primarily in New Jersey, specifically around the town ofordsburg, and in a few other states along the eastern seaboard such as New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Among the many variations of spelling is Voorhees, the most common spelling in America today.
Voorhess is an uncommon surname, which roots trace back to immigrants arriving in America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Over the course of time, the spelling of the name has changed, possibly due to errors made by immigration officials or table clerks in the United States when processing paperwork. Thus, the Voorhess name has shifted to forms such as Vorhies, Voorhis, etc.
The particular origin of the Voorhess surname is unclear, however, Dutch surnames were traditionally associated with areas of habitation, geographical features, and occupations. It is possible that the Voorhess surname is derived from the Dutch word “voor,” meaning before or in front of, indicating an ancestor who went by the nickname of “Voor” or “Voorhees” due to their place or activity.
Regardless of the origin of the name, those who share this uncommon surname have a special bond in regards to history that dates back centuries. As a rooted surname with an interesting history, Voorhess carries a lot of pride with it.
Variations of the surname Voorhess
The surname Voorhess is likely of Dutch origin, and is believed to have derived from the placename of Voorhees, which was near Amersfoort in the Netherlands. There are several variants and spellings of the surname, as well as some related surnames.
Variants of Voorhess include: Voorhees, Vorees, Foorhees, Foorhess, Forhees, Forees, Fourhees, Fourhess, and Foorhees.
Spellings of Voorhess may include Voorhies, Vorhees, Vorhees, Vorees, Forhies, Forees, Foorees, Fourees, and Furrees.
The surnames Voorhees and Foorees are both considered variants of Voorhess, and are sometimes intertwined with other related family names.
Other related surnames include: Voorhies, Voorshees, Vorrheess, Vorshees, Vorsheis, and Vorset.
Voorhess is also linked to the spellings Vorheess, Voreis, Foorrees, and Foreis, and to the surnames Fourees, Furees, Fouress, Furress, and Furries.
The Foorhees spelling is often a misspelling of Voorhess, and Foorees is sometimes a derivation of Foorhees. The other related surnames are often interchangeably used in recordings, although Voorhess is the predominant spelling.
Famous people with the name Voorhess
- Peter Voorhess: Professional golfer known as one of the founders of The First Tee Program.
- Rosina Voorhess: American sculptor who specialized in bronze and marble pieces.
- Margaret Voorhess: American poet and writer who wrote poetry collections such as “The Voice of the Night” and short stories such as “Cinderella Plantation”.
- Joseph Voorhess: Taught at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City and wrote several books, including “The Psychological Conflict of Jesus”.
- Ernest Voorhess: Former professional basketball player who played seven seasons for the original New York Knickerbockers of the National Basketball League.
- Elizabeth Voorhess: Former minister and assistant editor of the Church Encyclopedia.
- Robert Voorhess: Invented the Voorhess Lock, the first practical door lock with an internal locking mechanism.
- Mary Voorhess: Published works such as “Fairy Tales and Legends” and “The Vanishing Staircase”, as well as books for children.
- Alfred Voorhess: American geologist who studied the coastal regions of the United States, particularly the geomorphology of the east coast.
- David Voorhess: Acclaimed science fiction and fantasy writer who wrote novels such as “Resonance Grave” and “Dark Signal”.