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New settlers in America were often identified not only by a patronymic signifying the father but also by a phrase telling something about the place of origin. The Dutch term "van" or the German term "von" were used at the beginning of the phrase. Sometimes in Dutch phraseology, "de," "der," or "ter" was inserted, meaning "of" or "of the"—Van der Water meaning of the water. http://www.last-names.net/Articles/Place.asp
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