"In Loving Memory Of Those Who Came Before Us!"
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| Family Background |
The parents of "Stamvader" Byvoets are unknown.
| Birth |
"STAMVADER" (meaning "Forefather") BYVOETS
was born about 1440 in Belgium.He is one of the earliest family members found.
His actual first name is unknown.
| Marriage |
There is no known information.
| Children |
The known children born from our "Forefather" are:
1. PETER BYVOETSBirth unknown.
He married Marii Byvoets.
He died in 1555.
2. GOISSEN BOYVOETSBirth Unknown.
3. OY BOYVOETSBirth Unknown.
4. WILHELM LILLE BYVOETSBirth Unknown.
His spouse is unknown.
One known child born from his marriage:
1. Wilhelm Byvoets
5. GERARD PEELT BYVOETSBirth Unknown.
His spouse is unknown.
One known child born from his marriage:
1. Gerardus Byvoets
| Religion |
It is possible that he belonged to the Roman Catholic Church.
| Death |
The death of our Forefather,
"STAMVADER" BYVOETS, is unknown.
| Other Information |
According to the "Bijvoet & Byvoet Foundation" in Belgium, it is possible that the son "Peter Byvoets" is the same person as his son, "Peter Byvoets." Both "Peter's" are deceased in 1555 and both are married to "Marii Byvoets." There are records, however, that mention a second "Peter Byvoets" but in different contexts and in a different period of time.From the Bijvoet & Byvoet Foundation:
The name "BYVOETS" is the Dutch name for a medicinal herb known in English as "mugwort." Its scientific name is Artemisia Vulgaris. Literally Bijvoet can also be translated as "by or near the foot."
One folk-etymological theory for the origin of the Dutch name of the herb is that Roman footsoldiers put mugwort in their sandals to prevent sore feet.
Why the name of a medicinal herb came to be used as our family name will probably always be shrouded in the mists of history.
Neerpelt, Belgium is where the Byvoets / Bijvoet come from originally. Most family members living in the 16th and 17th centuries lived there. Neerpelt is in the northeastern part of Belgium, in the northern part of the province of Limburg, not far from the Dutch border.
The family became so scattered because in the 17th century the inhabitants of Neerpelt, many of our family members included, developed a market niche as itinerant sales and tradesmen. In spring they would swarm out in organized companies to sell their wares throughout the Low Countries, the Rhineland and the Alsace, returning to North Limburg in the fall.
Individuals would often return to the same area year after year, eventually purchasing property for use during the summer months. In many cases this seasonal settlement turned permanent and the traveller put down roots in his market area.
There are not many family members in America although several family members crossed the Atlantic, mostly in the twentieth century and settled in the USA. There is a cluster of Byvoetses in Indiana and Illinois. Their forefather Arjen landed on Ellis Island in 1913 with a family of ten.
Jan Albert Bijvoet moved to Alabama in the 1970s, where he settled with two of his sons, who now have their own families. Additionally, scattered individuals live in a number of states, including Florida, Colorado and California.
Strong circumstantial evidence points to the existence of one common ancestor with all individuals with the Byvoets surname.
Most of the more than 5,000 individuals that is in the "Bijvoet & Byvoet Foundation" database belong to one of four lineages. These are referred to by the name of their common ancestor:
1. Dierick Beyvoets
2. ‘Stamvader' (forefather) Buijvoets
3. Arien Bijvoet
4. Gerardus BeyvoetsThe following surnames are in current use in various branches of the family:
Bijvoet, Bijvoets, Buijvoets, Buyvoets, Byvoet, Byvoets.There are many more variations in historical records that include:
Beiffits, Beijvoet, Beijvoets, Beivoets, Beuvoets, Beuyvoets, Beyevous,
Beyffits, Beyvoedts, Beyvoets, Boeijvoets, Boeyvoets, Boyvoets.The Bijvoet & Byvoet Foundation has coined the following collective name to cover all branches of the family. This is a fantasy name that is not in actual use: "Buijyvoets."
If you have any additional information or inquiries about this family,
it would sure be appreciated if you would please contact me.
Updated August 26, 2009
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