meent

Meent is a term used in Dutch-language toponymy and, less commonly, as a surname. The primary association is as a place-name element, appearing in various locations across the Netherlands and in neighboring regions. The exact historical meaning of meent varies by region and period, but it generally relates to a land feature connected with water, such as a meadow, field, or boundary near a watercourse. Over time, settlements formed around these features adopted meent as part of their name, and the element persists in present-day place names.

Geography and usage: As a toponymic component, meent is most often found in rural areas of the Low Countries. In contemporary usage, it can appear as a standalone place name or in combination with other elements, reflecting regional naming patterns such as De Meent or Meentse, depending on local language and history.

Surname: Meent also appears as a Dutch surname, typically arising from a residence near a meent or from association with a place named Meent. It remains relatively uncommon but is identifiable in genealogical and historical records.

Notable uses: The term appears in local geographic designations, historical documents, and in contemporary business or organizational names that reference Dutch heritage or geography. There are no widely known global entities universally identified by the term Meent.

See also: De Meent; Meente; Dutch toponymy; List of Dutch place names.