What does van in front of dutch name mean?

Van is a Dutch patronymic surname meaning "from the". It is the most common surname in the Netherlands, and is also found in Belgium, France, Germany, and other countries with Dutch-speaking populations.

When used in front of a Dutch name, van indicates that the person is descended from a person with that name. For example, Jan van den Bergh is descended from a person named Bergh.

This system is similar to the use of the patronymic suffix "-son" in English surnames, such as Johnson or Williamson. However, in Dutch, the van is placed in front of the name, rather than after it.