Wouters is a Dutch patronymic surname, meaning "son of Wouter." The given name Wouter itself is a Dutch form of Walter, which derives from the Old German name Waltheri, composed of the elements walt "power, authority" and heri "army," thus meaning "power of the army." Distribution and VariantsWouters is primarily found in the Netherlands and Belgium, with over 8,700 bearers in the Netherlands and 15,700 in Belgium as of 2007/2008. The surname is the Dutch equivalent of English patronymic surnames such as Walters, Watkins, and Watson, all meaning "son of Walter." Variations like Walterson and Waters 2 (a variant for "son of Walter") also exist in English-speaking regions. Notable BearersSeveral notable individuals bear the surname Wouters. Jan Wouters (born 1960) is a retired Dutch football midfielder who played for AFC Ajax and the Netherlands national team. Dries Wouters (born 1997) is a Belgian footballer who plays as a defender for Lommel SK. Enzo Wouters (born 1996) and Aloïs Wouters (born 1962) are Belgian racing cyclists. In the arts, Frans Wouters (1612–1659) was a Flemish Baroque painter who was a student of Rubens. Hugo Wouters (1931–1975), who wrote under the pseudonym Hugues C. Pernath, was a Flemish poet associated with the experimental movement. Ad Wouters (born 1944) is a Dutch-born sculptor active in Belgium, known for geometric abstraction. Cas Wouters (1943–2025) was a Dutch sociologist noted for his work on the theory of civilizing processes. Chase Wouters (born 2000) is a Canadian ice hockey player. G. Henry Wouters (1802–1872) was a Flemish church historian. Hendrina Wouters (1718–1746) was a Dutch woman executed for murder. Several senior civil servants and jurists also carry the name.Meaning: Son of Wouter (from Walter, meaning "power of the army")Origin: Dutch patronymic surnameType: SurnameUsage Regions: Netherlands, Belgium