De Jonge is a Dutch surname meaning "the younger." It is a variant of De Jong, the most common surname in the Netherlands, which derives from Middle Dutch jonc (young). Originally a descriptive nickname, De Jonge often distinguished a younger individual from an older bearer of the same given name or trade.Notable BearersNotable individuals with the surname De Jonge include:Freek de Jonge (born 1944), a renowned Dutch cabaret performer and actor.Hugo de Jonge (born 1977), Dutch politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport.Marc de Jonge (1949–1996), a French actor known for his role in the film The Missionary.Bonifacius de Jonge (1567–1625), Grand Pensionary of Zeeland during the Dutch Republic.Jan de Jonge (born 1963), Dutch footballer who played for FC Groningen and PSV Eindhoven.Brendon de Jonge (born 1980), a Zimbabwean professional golfer who competed on the PGA Tour.Mark de Jonge (born 1984), Canadian canoeist who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.Cultural SignificanceThe prefix "De" in Dutch surnames means "the," and "Jonge" follows adjective declension — thus "the younger" reflects a comparative use. Cognates occur across Germanic languages: the English Young and German Jung share the same semantic origin.Meaning: "the younger"Origin: Dutch patronymic and descriptive surnameType: SurnameUsage Regions: Netherlands, and scattered communities among Dutch diaspora (e.g., Canada, South Africa)