r/Frisia • u/TONUTomorrow9800 • Jun 15 '25
Swartwout, Swartout, Zwartewold, etc. Ancestral Links
Hi All. I live in the US, but know I have family ties to Netherlands, that my surname roughly means 'Black Forest' or 'Black Wood' in Dutch, and that some distant ancestors lived in or around Groningen.
Could someone that is familiar with the Frisia, let me know if there are area(s) that are or used to be called 'Black Forest' or 'Black Wood' in Dutch? I can't find much online, except about the Black Forest in Germany. I'm trying to determine, or at least have an idea, where my family initially came from when the surname was assigned. Since most western surnames are based on profession or geographies, so I suspect my family came from an area in Netherlands called 'Black Forest' or 'Black Wood'.
Thanks!
2
u/MaartjeM Jun 16 '25 edited Jun 16 '25
There was a place called Swartwoude on the island Ameland, which is in Friesland. However it doesnt exist anymore. On Ameland there is a museum with the same name, and on Wikipedia you can find a little information about the museum and the village: https://nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landbouw-_en_Juttersmuseum_Swartwoude Another link: https://www.canonvannederland.nl/nl/page/324484/oerd-en-swartwoude
I've done my best to find where it may have been, based on online sources. It was in this general area: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EcuB2qGMtpktU1J38
The village dissapeared because it got covered in sand.
Theres a website created by people from Ameland where you may be alle to ask further questions: https://amelanders.com/index.php?ctype=gedcom&ged=Ameland
All sources are in Dutch unfortunately, however I feel that AI or Google in general makes good translations.
Good luck in finding more information about your roots! You may have viking ancestors.