Schoonderwoerd is a toponym, a surname derived from a place name. Schoondrewoerd is a village located in the middle of The Netherlands in an area known as Vijfheerenlanden (literally “land with 5 lords”). Among the 5 lords that the area derives its name from are the medieval Lords of Arkel that are likely my ancestors, too. Schoondrewoerd ceased to be an autonomous village in 1986, when it became part of Leerdam.One of my ancestors is 16th-century Wouter Maesz. One of his grandsons is Wouter Maesz. Schoonderwoert who originated in Woudrichem and later moved to Hoornaar. Wouter had 2 wives: Vijverke Gijsberts (±1625-1659) and Adriaentge Willems. Wouter II and his first wive had a grandson named Wouter Maaez Schoonderwoert, too. This Wouter III married his half-cousin Neeltien Willems Schoonderwoert, a granddaughter of Wouter II and his second wife. Wouter III and his half-cousin had 7 children.
Wouter Maesz Schoonderwoert (II)
x Vijverke Gijsberts - Maes - Wouter x - 7 children
x Adriaentge Willems - Willem - Neeltien incl. Maes


