10 Things You Didn't Know About Jason Voorhees
8. The Name Voorhees Is Dutch
According to House Of Names, the name Voorhees “was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region.” It’s actually an anglicized form of van voor Hees (“before Hees”), Hees being a small Dutch village of about 50 people.
One of the earliest Dutch settlers to arrive in America was Steven Coertse van Voorhees, who migrated to Nieuw Amersfoort (now Flatlands, Brooklyn) where he farmed and operated a brewery. In 1664, he founded the Dutch Reformed Church. Brooklyn’s Voorhies Avenue is named after him.
Other Voorhees of note include Daniel S Voorhees, who confessed to the murder of Elizabeth Short (the so-called “Black Dahlia” case) in 1947 and Debi Sue Voorhees, the actress and Playboy model who appeared in Friday The 13th Part V: A New Beginning.