Cornelis

Cornelis is a Dutch masculine given name, cognate with Cornelius. The name derives from the Latin Cornelius, linked to the Latin term cornu meaning horn. In Dutch, Cornelis is the standard form, with variants including Corneliszoon, a patronymic indicating "son of Cornelis." The name has been used in the Netherlands and Flanders since the Middle Ages and was especially common during the 16th to 18th centuries. In contemporary usage, Cornelis remains recognizable but is less common as a given name; nicknames such as Cees or Kees are common forms derived from Cornelis.

Notable individuals named Cornelis include Cornelis de Houtman (1565–1599), a Dutch explorer who led the first Dutch expedition to the Indies; Cornelis Pieterszoon Hooft (1581–1647), a poet, dramatist and statesman of the Dutch Golden Age; Cornelis Tromp (1629–1691), a Dutch admiral; and Cornelis Lely (1854–1929), an engineer and politician known for the Zuiderzee Works and the Afsluitdijk. These figures illustrate the historical use of the name across exploration, literature, military, and public service in Dutch history.