Altena

Dutch

Etymology

• (Noord-Brabant) From Middle Dutch Altena, Holtena (among other spellings), from an Old Dutch term which is only attested as Latinized Huoltena, the name of a river probably deriving from Proto-Germanic *hultą (“wood”) + *ahwō (“water, river”); thuis equivalent to hout + a.
• (Drenthe) First attested as de altena in 1143, 1145 and 1167. Compound of al (“much”), te (“too”) and na (“close”). The toponym contrasts with Alteveer. Compare Matena, Nauerna and Nergena. See also Dutch Low Saxon Altenao.
• (Zeeland) (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

The surname derives from one of several toponyms.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑl.tə.naː/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Al‧te‧na

Proper noun

Altena n

1. Altena (a municipality of North Brabant, Netherlands).

   Meronyms: Almkerk, Andel, Babyloniënbroek, Biesheuvel, Bronkhorst, Buurtje, Drongelen, Duizend Morgen, Dussen, Eethen, Eng, Genderen, Giessen, Hank, Hill, Hoekeinde, Keizersveer, Kerkeinde, Kievitswaard, Kille, Korn, Meeuwen, Moleneind, Nieuwendijk, Oudendijk, Peerenboom, Rijswijk, Schans, Sleeuwijk, Spijk, Stenenheul, Steurgat, 't Zand, Uitwijk, Uppel, Veen, Vierbannen, Vijcie, Waardhuizen, Werkendam, Wijk en Aalburg, Woudrichem, Zandwijk

2. A village in Noordenveld, Drenthe, Netherlands.
3. A hamlet in Terneuzen, Zeeland, Netherlands.
4. a surname

Derived terms

• Land van Altena

References

• van Berkel, Gerard, Samplonius, Kees (2018) “altena”, in Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard‎^[1] (in Dutch), Mijnbestseller.nl, →ISBN