Prins, a common Dutch family name both Men­nonite and non-Mennonite. A widely ramified Mennonite family by this name is found in the province of North Holland, originating from de Rijp, where Arent Claesz Prins, b. ca. 1635, was a shipbuilder and shipowner, as were his descendants until ca. 1750. They gave up shipbuilding after de Rijp was no longer an important shipping and whaling center. Members of this family thereupon moved to Purmerend and Wormerveer. In Wormerveer, Simon Jansz Prins (1738-1814) was a merchant in grains and the founder of a starch factory, which business was also run by his son Cornelis Simonsz Prins (1771-1843, who was 1811-d.1843 at the same time a burgomaster of Wormerveer) and his grandson Simon Cornelisz Prins (1796-1871) who added a linseed oil factory, gradually also be­coming engaged in limited liability companies, running similar businesses.

In de Rijp some members of this family have been trustees of the Mennonite orphanage; in Wormer­veer some of them were deacons. As far as known none of them served as a minister of the church.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 219, 1147. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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