Heijns

Heijns is a Dutch surname. It is likely a patronymic derived from Hein, a diminutive of Johannes, with the possessive/patronymic suffix -s. In Dutch naming practice, such forms indicate "son of Hein" or "belonging to Hein." The spelling with ij reflects traditional Dutch orthography.

Geographic distribution: The name is most commonly found in the Netherlands, with occurrences among Dutch-speaking communities in Belgium and among descendants of Dutch emigrants in North America and elsewhere. Genealogical records show households bearing the surname from the 18th century onward.

Variants and cognates: Related Dutch patronymic surnames formed from the given name Hein or Johannes include Heins and Heinse, among others. Spelling variations arise from regional orthography and immigration.

Notable people: No widely recognized individuals bearing the surname Heijns have standalone articles in major reference works.

References and further reading: Etymological and genealogical sources on Dutch surnames discuss patronymic formations, including -s surnames derived from given names such as Hein.