Rijkhoven History Group Seeks Residents to Uncover Meanings of Old Nicknames

The local history society in Rijkhoven, near Bilzen-Hoeselt, is embarking on a fascinating journey to unravel the meanings behind historical nicknames, or 'toenamen', used by its residents. For three years, these hobby historians have been meticulously researching these unique identifiers, which often alluded to a person's origin, profession, or distinct characteristics.

So far, the society has successfully deciphered the meanings and traced the family histories of no fewer than 180 such names. François Capiot, a member of the Heemkring, shared that the explanations range from the hilarious to the mysterious. He cited the example of 'Busgriet' from 's-Herenelderen, whose story remains a puzzle, while others are more straightforward.

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The explanations range from the hilarious to the mysterious, a riddle or even logical: the Busgriet of 's-Herenelderen for example.

To delve deeper into these historical monikers, the society relies heavily on the memories and testimonies of current residents. Capiot explained that these 'toenamen' were once essential, particularly in times when formal family names were not consistently used. He shared a personal anecdote: "My brother and I were known in the village as 'Robert and François van Metjeu van Lemme,' a direct reference to our father Mathieu and grandfather Lambert."

The practice of using 'toenamen' largely faded after Napoleon's decree in 1792, which mandated the registration of family names during birth. However, many modern surnames still echo these older, informal identifiers. The Rijkhoven Heemkring notes that while these nicknames hold cherished family memories, younger generations often no longer understand their significance. The society is now actively seeking contributions from the community to preserve this unique aspect of local heritage.

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Those toenamen, that was used in the past because people simply didn't have a family name.