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Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • Dutch : literally ‘from the sea’, a topographic name for someone who lived by the sea, Middle Dutch zee, or a name for a child born at sea.
  • Storm van der Zee (1636–c.1679), son of Albert Andriessen <xref>Bradt</xref>, was born aboard the ship Rensselaerwyck during a violent storm off the coast of England, en route to New Netherland. He adopted the surname Van der Zee in adult life, and had numerous prominent descendants.

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