tenBroek

tenBroek is a Dutch toponymic surname derived from the geographic term broek, meaning marsh or bog, with ten acting as a locational element that can be interpreted as “at the marsh” or “from the marsh.” The name would have been applied to people originating from a place named De Broek or Ten Broek, or from a landscape characterized by marshland near a settlement. Spelling variations include tenbroek and Tenbroek in Dutch records, while the form tenBroek is common in contemporary usage, especially among descendants of Dutch migrants.

Geographically, tenBroek is found in the Netherlands and in countries with Dutch diaspora communities, notably the United States and Canada. In the Netherlands, it is typically associated with rural or agricultural areas reflecting its toponymic origin. In North America, the surname arrived with Dutch immigrants during the early modern period and has since become established among families there. The name is one of several Dutch toponymic surnames built from broek and related place-name elements.

As a toponymic surname, tenBroek is part of a broader Dutch naming pattern that links families to specific landscapes or locales. Related surnames—such as Broek, van den Broek, and De Broek—share the same linguistic root but differ in construction, reflecting regional naming practices and migratory histories.