ORIGIN

The origin of the name "Betlem" is not clear but is most likely related to a fortress or castle (called 'Bethlen' in the local language) built by Antal (1123-1190) and his sons in the north of Siebenburgen.
There is no indication at all that the name is related to the relegious place Bethlehem in the Middle East.
All over the world, some 500 Betlems do exist, all descendants from the Hungarian Royal House of Bethlen, going back to Atilla (born about 402, died 453) himself. Attila was married in 452 with Moneria, the daughter of Emperor Valentianus III. Atilla was the son of the Mongolian leader Mundzek.
Not surprising though that in Eastern Europe the name Betlem occurs frequently as name (family name, name of a hotel, etc.).
The Betlems have family lines to the Netherlands (mainly western part of the country with main place of settlement the village of Jisp), Belgium, and the U.S.A.
In the Netherlands they mainly occupied themselves with the making of sails, whale fishing and milling.
The line in the U.S.A. was established in the beginning of the 1900's as Dutch fishermen (from Edam) went to the States and settled.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS

Currently probably most of the members of the Betlem genus live in the Netherlands, mainly in or around Amsterdam and neighbouring towns (like Purmerend and Zaandam), in the Province of Noord Holland.
Records show approximately 110 adresses in the Netherlands where Betlems are living.
Betlems are mobile: as mentioned above they have settled outside the Netherlands and we can find Betlems for example in the USA and Belgium.
Betlems are rare but not endangered!

TYPICAL FIRST NAMES FOR BETLEMS

Typical first names for members of the Betlem group as recorded during the last centories in archives or personal files, are:
for men:
Alle, Arend, Arie, Bastiaan, Dirk, Eelke, Egbert, Engbert, Evert, Frans, Frederik, Gerard, Gerrit, Geurt, Hans, Harm, Hendrik, Hindrik, Hubertus, Huibert, Huijbert, Huig, Huijg, Jacob, Jacobus, Jan, Jannetje, Jantje, Johan, Joannes, Joost, Klaas, Lammerd, Leendert, Matthijs, Mecheld, Nicolaas, Paul, Peter, Pieter, Rob, Robert, Siert, Simon,Teunis, Wiggert, Wijnand, Willem, Wouter, Zeger.

Typical first names for women are:
Aagje, Aaltje, Adriana, Aletje, Alexandrina, Anne, Anneke, Annigjen, Bertha, Ceel, Cornelia, Elisabeth, Emmetje, Flora, Geertruij, Grietie, Hendrika, Hendrina, Hinke, Jacoba, Jannigje, Johanna, Josina, Josijna, Maaike, Maggeltje, Maria, Metje, Mia, Minke, Neeltje,Pieternel, Sijke, Steijntje, Trijntje, Wilhelmina.

As far as we know, Mathijs (with one t) has never been recorded before 1996.

Are you a Betlem and is your first name not mentioned above?
Please send us a mail and we will add you on to the list!!