Theunis is a Dutch masculine given name, derived as a short form of Antonius. It is considered a diminutive of Antonius, itself the Latin form of Anthony. The name is predominantly found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, South Africa, Namibia, and Indonesia. A further shortened variant, Theuns, is common in South Africa.EtymologyThe root name Anthony traces back to the Roman family name Antonius, of unknown Etruscan origin. The most famous bearer of this family name was Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony), the 1st-century BC Roman general who ruled jointly with Augustus. The name gained Christian popularity through Saint Anthony the Great (4th-century Egyptian hermit) and Saint Anthony of Padua (13th-century patron saint of Portugal). The spelling with h was erroneously influenced by the Greek word anthos meaning "flower."Notable BearersTheunis de Bruyn (born 1992), South African cricketerTheunis Willem de Jongh, South African bankerTheunis van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723), Dutch microscopist and microbiologistTheunis Piersma (born 1958), Dutch biologistTheunis van Schalkwyk (1929–2005), South African boxerTheunis Spangenberg (born 1983), South African golferVariantsRelated Dutch diminutives include Teun, Teunis, and Theun. The name Theunissen is a Dutch patronymic surname derived from Theunis.Meaning: short form of AntoniusOrigin: DutchType: Given name (masculine)Usage Regions: Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, South Africa, Namibia, Indonesia