🏠︎ Springorum

The Very First Springorums in Amsterdam

The Very First Springorums in Amsterdam
The first occurences of the name Springorum in the Amsterdam City Archive.

Barend Springorum and his brother Willem Springorum—my direct ancestor—were not the first individuals bearing the Springorum name to appear in Amsterdam. They do, however, represent the branch from which the majority of later Springorums in the Netherlands descend. Their arrival marks the beginning of a clearly traceable and enduring Dutch line, even though earlier, more isolated appearances of the name can already be found in the city.

When searching the Dutch and Amsterdam archives for the name Springorum—using a broad wildcard query such as “spri*or*”—several individuals appear under that name, or close variants of it, well before the documented arrival of Willem and Barend. All of these early occurrences are listed below.

Because the surname Springorum is rare and shows a strong geographical concentration in Westphalia, I have examined each of these early Dutch references to determine whether they can be connected to known individuals in the German family tree. This is complicated by inconsistent spelling, incomplete records, and the fact that many entries mention only a name, without clear information on origin, age, or family relations.

So far, I have only been able to establish convincing links for Diederich Springorum and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum, both of whom can be plausibly mapped onto the Westphalian branch on chronological and contextual grounds. For the remaining names, the available Dutch records do not yet provide enough evidence to connect them securely to the German lineage.

Name Year of appearance Description
Henderijck Sprienckhoorn 1634 burial registration child
Jacob Jansz Sprinckhooren 1652; 1655 sailor
Catarijna van Sprinckhorens 1663 burial
Catlijntje Sprinkhoorn 1671 marriage
Diderik Springhoorn 1692 sailor Zierikzee
Johan Joachim Sprinckhorn 1715 wisselprotest
Fredrik Springhoorn 1732 from Essen, sailor VOC
Elisabeth Catharina Springorum 1742-1758 Coert Strijk
Claas Springorum 1750; 1755 sailor VOC
Didrig Springorum 1754-1791 Eva Kaa; Anna Catharina Holtzhey

Henderijck Sprienckhoorn

Jacob Jansz Sprinckhooren

Jacob Jansz Sprinckhooren is one of the earliest Springorums to appear in the Amsterdam archives. He is documented in notarial acts from 1652 and 1655, where he appears as a sailor. In these records he is described as being “van Hamburg”, but this should not be taken as a reliable indication of his origin. In notarial contexts such place names often refer to a port of departure or recent residence rather than a place of birth.

In 1652, Jacob served as a bootsgezel aboard the ship De Groote Liefde; in 1655 he appears again, this time in VOC service aboard the ship Amersfoort. In both charters, Jacob Jansz Sprinckhooren acknowledges debts incurred for lodging, living expenses, and outfitting, and in both cases assigns his future wages and related earnings to the creditor as repayment for these advances.

These documents mark Jacob Jansz Sprinckhooren as the first clearly identifiable Springorum in the Amsterdam records.

Transport and Wage Assignment of Jacob Sprinckhooren

transport · 1652-05-04 · Amsterdam, Nederland

Notarial act dated 4 May 1652 in which Jacob Sprinckhooren of Hamburg, serving as a ship’s mate aboard the vessel De Groote Liefde, acknowledges a debt of 89 guilders and 4 stuivers to Grietgen Henricx on behalf of Carsten Jansz. The debt concerns living and outfitting expenses advanced to him. Sprinckhooren assigns his future wages and prize money, from this and all future voyages, until full repayment. The act was executed before notary Hendrik Schaef in Amsterdam, with witnesses from Lübeck and Hamburg.

Transport and Wage Assignment of Jacob Sprinckhooren

Reference: Transport and Wage Assignment of Jacob Sprinckhooren

Transport and Wage Assignment of Jacob Sprinckhooren

transport · 1655-05-08 · Amsterdam, Nederland

Notarial act dated 8 May 1655 in which Jacob Jansz Springhoorn (Springorum), originally from Hamburg, appears before notary Hendrick Schaef in Amsterdam. Jacob, serving as a sailor aboard the ship Amersfoort in the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), acknowledges a lawful debt of one hundred guilders and twenty stuivers to an Amsterdam innkeeper, incurred for lodging, living expenses, and advances made for his outfitting and voyage preparations. To secure repayment, Jacob assigns and transfers his future wages, monthly pay, and any additional earnings, not only from the present voyage but from all future voyages and services, without exception, until full and effective payment has been made. The act was executed in Amsterdam in the presence of witnesses Hendrick de Haes and Jan Theunisz Schoemaker.

Transport and Wage Assignment of Jacob Sprinckhooren

Reference: Transport and Wage Assignment of Jacob Sprinckhooren

Catarijna van Sprinckhorens

Catlijntje Sprinkhoorn

Diderik Springhoorn

Johan Joachim Sprinckhorn

Fredrik Springhoorn

On 15 May 1732, Fredrik Springhoorn, originating from Essen, entered the service of the Dutch East India Company as first cooper in the Amsterdam chamber. He sailed aboard the ship Karsenhof, which departed for Ceylon. After a long outward voyage, the ship reached the Cape of Good Hope in November 1732, departed again in December, and eventually arrived in Ceylon in April 1733. Fredrik’s service ended later that year: on 18 December 1733 his employment was formally closed in Asia, with the reason noted as deceased. His record includes a debenture but no monthly certificate.

Elisabeth Catharina Springorum and Coert Strijk

A woman bearing the name Elisabeth Catharina Springorum appears several times in the Amsterdam records. Born around 1702 and deceased in 1758, she belongs to a much later generation, yet her presence confirms the continued use of the Springorum surname in Amsterdam across the eighteenth century.

This Elisabeth Catharina surfaces most clearly in notarial records, including a joint testament drawn up together with her partner Coert Strijk. Such documents place her firmly within the civic and legal life of the city and show her acting in her own right, rather than merely being mentioned in relation to a father or guardian. Her appearance alongside Coert Strijk reflects a stable domestic partnership and provides valuable insight into her social and economic position.

On chronological and contextual grounds, it is very likely that this Elisabeth Catharina was the daughter of Johann Friedrich Springorum, brother of Johann Heinrich Springorum and son of Johannes Springorum, pastor (Pfarrer) in Kirchende. Her appearance in the Amsterdam records places her among the earliest identifiable members of this family line to settle in the city, strongly indicating a first-generation move from Westphalia rather than the continuation of an already established Dutch branch.

In both the testament and a related receipt (kwitantie), a man named Bernhardus Frederik Hendrik Springorum is mentioned as Elisabeth’s brother. So far, however, I have not been able to establish any documentary link between him and Johann Friedrich Springorum, despite the strong chronological and contextual indications elsewhere.

Marriage of Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum

marriage · 1742-04-26 · Amsterdam, Nederland

On 26 April 1742, Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum registered their notice of marriage in Amsterdam. The entry was recorded in the municipal marriage registers (Ondertrouwregister) of the city. Based on the stated age of Elisabeth Catharina—recorded as 40 years old—her year of birth can be estimated at around 1702. This record therefore forms not only the earliest confirmed appearance of Elisabeth Catharina Springorum in the Amsterdam archives, but also provides a crucial chronological anchor for her place within the wider Springorum family.

Marriage of Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum
Notice of marriage dated 26 April 1742 for Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum, recorded in the Amsterdam Ondertrouwregister.

Reference: Marriage of Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum

Testament of Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum

testament · 1744-11-19 · Amsterdam, Nederland

On 19 November 1744, a mutual testament was recorded for Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum before the Amsterdam notary Salomon Dorper. The testament includes provisions and legacies for siblings and other family members, including a bequest to Elisabeth Catharina’s brother, Bernardus Fredrik Hendrik Springorum, then residing in Unna, Westphalia.

Testament of Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum

Testament of Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum
Testament of Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum
Testament of Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum

Reference: Testament of Coert Strijk and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum

Burial of Elisabeth Springorum

burial · 1758-01-11 · Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Nederland

On 11 January 1758, Elisabeth Springorum was buried in Amsterdam. The burial was recorded in the Amsterdam church burial registers (DTB Begraven). She is described in the record as the wife (huisvrouw) of Koert Strijk.

Burial of Elisabeth Springorum
Burial record dated 11 January 1758 for Elisabeth Springorum. Cemetery: Oude Luthersche Kerk, Amsterdam. Relationship noted: wife (huisvrouw) of Koert Strijk.

Reference: Burial of Elisabeth Springorum

Receipt concerning the estate of Elisabeth Catharina Springorum

kwitantie · 1758-03-10 · Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Nederland

On 10 March 1758, a notarial receipt (kwitantie) was drawn up before the Amsterdam notary Salomon Dorper, involving Koert Strijk and Bernardus Fredrik Hendrik Springorum, the brother of the deceased Elisabeth Catharina Springorum. The document reflects the financial settlement of matters relating to her estate, following her burial on 11 January 1758.

Receipt concerning the estate of Elisabeth Catharina Springorum

Receipt concerning the estate of Elisabeth Catharina Springorum
Receipt concerning the estate of Elisabeth Catharina Springorum
Notarial receipt dated 10 March 1758, recorded before notary Salomon Dorper.Registered parties: Bernardus Fredrik Hendrik Springorum, Koert Strijk, and Elisabeth Catharina Springorum. Location noted as Brandenburg.

Reference: Receipt concerning the estate of Elisabeth Catharina Springorum

Claas Springorum joins VOC

Claas Springorum, originating from Elshoorn—most likely a farm or estate name in Westphalia—entered the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), Chamber of Amsterdam, on 18 November 1750, where he served as a ship’s gunner. He appears to belong to the same generation as Diderich van Eva Kaa, who is documented in comparable maritime contexts during this period. The designation “from Elshoorn” should be understood as a local origin rather than a town or village, reflecting a common naming practice among men from the Westphalian region who entered Dutch maritime service in the eighteenth century. Claas Springorum thus fits into the broader pattern of migration from the Ruhr and surrounding areas to Amsterdam.

Claas Springorum departed that same month aboard the Giessenburg for Batavia. After stops at the Cape of Good Hope in March–April 1751, the ship reached Batavia in July 1751. In January 1752, Claas began his return voyage on the Bloemendaal, again via the Cape, and arrived back in the Netherlands in July 1752. His service lasted 592 days, after which he was formally discharged, his resignation noted as due to repatriation.

Claas Sprinkhoorn re-entered the service of the Dutch East India Company on 18 October 1755, again serving as a ship’s gunner, this time with the Rotterdam Chamber. He departed aboard the Blijdorp for Batavia, reaching the Cape of Good Hope in January 1756 and Batavia in April 1756. After an extended stay in Asia, he began his return voyage on the Rotterdam in November 1758, once more sailing via the Cape, and arrived back in the Netherlands in July 1759. His second period of service lasted 1,356 days, after which he was formally discharged, with the reason for resignation recorded as repatriation.

Didrig Springorum and Eva Kaa

Didrich (Johann Dietherich) Springorum, born in 1732, enters the Amsterdam records somewhat later than the earliest Springorum traces in the city. His first documented appearance is in October 1754, at the baptism of Johanna Maria, a daughter he had together with Eva Kaa, who was about seven years his senior. A year later, his name appears again—this time in the registration of the child’s death, recorded when she was only one year old.

Notably, no record of a marriage between Didrich and Eva Kaa has been found. In the absence of such documentation, it must for now be assumed that they were not formally married. After this brief cluster of records, the trail goes quiet. Several years pass before both re-emerge separately in the Amsterdam sources. In 1764, Eva Kaa marries Jan Hinderman. Didrich, in turn, appears again in 1772, when he marries Anna Catharina Holtzhey, the widow of Nicolaas Albrecht.

From this point onward, Didrich becomes a more regular presence in the archival record. His name occurs repeatedly in wisselprotesten, indicating sustained involvement in financial or commercial affairs. These documents show him not as a transient figure, but as someone operating within the economic life of the city over an extended period. Didrich Springorum remained in Amsterdam until his death in 1810.

Although the exact family connection cannot yet be proven by surviving documents, the chronology, the recurring given names, and the rarity of the surname strongly suggest that Didrich belongs to the same extended Springorum family as the earlier individuals who appear in Amsterdam. He seems to follow the same broader pattern: an individual move from Westphalia to Amsterdam, rather than belonging to a firmly established Dutch branch.

Based on what is known so far, it is likely that Didrich was the son of Johann Bernhard Springorum, himself a son of Caspar Reinhard Springorum, another brother of Johann Heinrich Springorum. If this hypothesis is correct, Didrich fits neatly into the wider family network that produced several early, but largely unconnected, Springorum appearances in Amsterdam—even if final documentary proof is still missing.

Barend and Willem Springorum

By the time Barend Springorum and Willem Springorum appear in the Amsterdam records, the Springorum name was no longer entirely unfamiliar in the city. With Barend and Willem, however, something clearly changes. They are the first Springorums who can be traced in Amsterdam over an extended period and across multiple, independent records. Their lives become woven into the fabric of the city in a sustained and documentable way. What had previously been a series of isolated appearances now marks the beginning of a lasting presence and true settlement.

Willem, born in 1744, and Barend, slightly older, belong to a generation for which the documentary record becomes much richer. Through marriages, baptisms, occupations, and addresses, their presence in Amsterdam can be reconstructed in detail. In contrast to earlier Springorums, they did not merely appear in the city; they stayed.

For my own family history, this is the decisive step. Willem is the ancestor through whom the Springorum name truly becomes established in the Netherlands. From his arrival onward, the family line can be followed continuously, generation by generation. What begins with scattered and uncertain traces finally turns into a documented Dutch branch—one that leads, without interruption, to the present day.