Prins (Dutch: Prince) is a Dutch surname. In 2007, Prins was the 48th most common surname in the Netherlands (15,361 people). The surname rarely if ever derives from an ancestor who was a prince. Instead, the original may have lived in or worked at a location, like a windmill or inn, with that name, or simply was called "the prince" by friends. People with the name Prins include:
A. H. J. Prins (1921–2000), Dutch Africanist and maritime anthropologistde:Adolphe Prins (1845–1919), Belgian jurist and criminologistAlwin de Prins (born 1978), Luxembourgish swimmerAnthony Winkler Prins (1817–1903), author of Winkler Prins a Dutch encyclopedianl:Ary Prins (1816–1867), Dutch jurist and politician, twice interim Governor General of the Dutch East IndiesBenjamin Prins (1860 – 1934), Dutch genre artistCo Prins (1938–1987), Dutch football playerDave Prins (born 1968), English darts playerGert-Jan Prins (born 1961), Dutch musicianHarald E. L. Prins (born 1951), Dutch anthropologist in the USde:Hendrik Jacobus Prins (1889–1958), Dutch chemist, discovered the Prins reactionIgor Prins (born 1966), Estonian football player and coachJan Prins (1944–2008), Dutch newspaper editor and journalistde:Johannes Jacobus Prins (1814–1898), Dutch theologianLodewijk Prins (1913–1999), Dutch chess playerNomi Prins, American author and journalistde:Pierre Ernest Prins (1838–1913), French painter and sculptorPiet Prins, pen name of Piet Jongeling (1909–1985), Dutch politician and children's book authorRay Prins (born 1951), Canadian politicianStanislav Prins (born 1988), Estonian footballer