The name "Neevel" undoubtedly belongs among the
unusual family names in the Netherlands. All those who bear this name are related to each
other, although the relationship among some is a bit "cloudy."
"Neevel" means "mist" or "fog".
The oldest information comes from Germany, from the year 1560. A city planner, Johan
Philip Neevel, born in 1560, lived in Ort Griedel near Butsbach. The city hall (Rathaus)
of the city of Biedendorf was built under his supervision. Also known are Christoffel and
John Wilhelm Neevel, twins, born in 1633, and John-Valentin Neevel, born March 21, 1649,
in Germany.
Thus far there is no fully connecting story; such begins only in 1819, when Johan Philip
Neevel settled in Dinxperlo. This Neevel was born March 1, 1771, in Arrendsberg near
Darmstad, the son of George Christiaan Neevel and Anna Margaretha Finck. Johan Philip was
a former sergeant-major from Germany who had served in the wars during the
"French" era. He received a "Pension of the Country," that is, a Dutch
pension. He probably also served in the Dutch army. The pension which received in 1841 was
f28.50 quarterly. In those days this was considered a substantial amount for someone his
age. In 1820 he married Willemina te Grotenhuis, daughter of Jan Derk te Grotenhuis and
Janna Machteld Kremer. At this time Johan Philip often functioned as a witness at death
and birth registrations; he had good handwriting which was very clear and is easily
legible after 150 years. He had three sons, of which the two youngest left for America in
1849; descendants with the name Neevel still live there.
The oldest son, Dorus Christiaan Neevel, born February 27, 1822, remained in the
Netherlands. He learned the cobbler trade. After living in Breedenbroek op de Pruus for
some time he settled in the Beggelder in Dinxperlo in November 12, 1847; he was the
cobbler at the Klumpener.
This was possible because Manus Finkenvleugel, who had rented this farm, left to America
at the beginning of November, 1847. The Finkenvleugels already lived in the
"Klumpener" in 1699. They were wooden shoe makers, or, as they were then called,
"clompenaer"; the farm probably got its name from that.
When Dorus Christiaan Neevel settled in the Klumpener, it belonged to the city of
Dinxperlo. When it was rented on Mertini Day, 1850 (Nov. 11th) it was 43 rods and 50 ells
in size. In 1855 the city sold the farm to Dorus for f550.
Dorus was married to Willemina Harelink, who came from Breedenbroek and was born Sept. 24,
1824. They had two sons and four daughters. The sons were Johan Philip, born Sept. 1, 1853
and Gradus Hermanus, born March 14, 1866. The daughters are all married and have stayed in
the area. Johan Philip stayed at Klumpener while Gradus moved closer to town on the
Baggelder dike. He died in 1911, leaving a daughter and three sons. These also have
descendants, among whom a Christiaan Valentin Neevel.
Johan Philip, mentioned ealrier, who stayed at the Klumpener, married Johanna Ormel from
Heurne in 1885. From this marriage two daughters were born. One of these, Hendrika Neevel,
married Joh. ter Horst, a neighbor of the Klumpener. There also were four sons, among whom
Hendrik Willem Neevel, born in 1887, lived at Klumpener. A son of this Hendrik emigrated
to Canada in 1949. Hendrik Willem visited his son there in 1960. At that time he also had
contact with the descendants of the Neevels who left in 1849. Those who left were brothers
of his grandfather. He spoke with their children, who were around 90 years old. In Canada
they had also preserved an old first name: a grandson was called George Henry.
Another interesting item is the fact that in 1920 Hendrik Willem Neevel married Willemina
Johanna te Grotenhuis, while one hundred years before, in 1820, his great grandfather had
married Willemina te Grotenhuis.
In Dinxperlo and surroundings there are currently (in 1972) around 30 people called
Neevel. Since Dinxperlo is a small community, Neevel is a familiar name, although
elsewhere in the country it is seldom known.
Below is a list of the four sons and two daughters born from the 1885 marriage of Johan
Philip Neevel and Johanna Ormel from de Heurne:
1. Durus Christiaan, born March 23, 1886
2. Hendrik Willem, Born Oct. 3, 1887 (stayed at Klumpener)
3. Willemien Aleida, Born July 12, 1890
4. Johanna Hendrika, born Jan. 18, 1893 (married ter Horst of Luumeshuus)
5. Hermanus Gerhardus, born May 14, 1896
6. Herman Johan, born Jan. 27, 1903 (became a school teacher and moved to Den Heg)
From the marriage of Hendrik Willem Neevel and Willemina 7 children were born, three sons
and four daughters. The youngest grandchild of H.W. Neevel is called Johan Christiann,
born from the marriage of his daughter Hendrika Theodore and John Wessel Heezen. The
youngest son of these 7 children, also called Herman, moved to Beggelderveld, while son
Willem Theodoor lived at the Klumpener.
Thus we keep seeing the old names in the Neevel family.
--Witten in Dinxperlo on July 2, 1972--