Meaning & History
Meeuwes is a Dutch surname. It is a variant of Meeuwsen, which itself derives from the given name Meeuw. The name Meeuw is a short form of Bartholomew; thus, Meeuwessen, Meeuwis, Meeuwissen, and Meeuwsen are related variants.
Etymology
The root of Meeuwes is the name Bartholomew, which comes from the Greek form Βαρθολομαῖος (Bartholomaios) of an Aramaic name meaning "son of Talmai". In the New Testament, Bartholomew is the byname of an apostle, possibly the same person as the apostle Nathanael. The name became very common in medieval England and throughout Europe due to the popularity of Saint Bartholomew.
Distribution and Variants
As a Dutch surname, Meeuwes is most commonly found in the Netherlands. Its variants include Meeuwessen, Meeuwis, Meeuwissen, and the original form Meeuwsen. In other languages, surnames derived from Bartholomew include Czech Bárta and Bartoš, Slovak Bartoš and Bartošová, Croatian Barišić, and English Babcock.
Related Names
Sources: Forebears — meeuwes