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 anthropologist
de:Adolphe Prins (1845–1919), Belgian jurist and criminologist
Alwin de Prins (born 1978), Luxembourgish swimmer
Anthony Winkler Prins (1817–1903), author of Winkler Prins a Dutch encyclopedia
nl:Ary Prins (1816–1867), Dutch jurist and politician, twice interim Governor General of the Dutch East Indies
Benjamin Prins (1860 – 1934), Dutch genre artist
Co Prins (1938–1987), Dutch football player
Dave Prins (born 1968), English darts player
Gert-Jan Prins (born 1961), Dutch musician
Harald E. L. Prins (born 1951), Dutch anthropologist in the US
de:Hendrik Jacobus Prins (1889–1958), Dutch chemist, discovered the Prins reaction
Igor Prins (born 1966), Estonian football player and coach
Jan Prins (1944–2008), Dutch newspaper editor and journalist
de:Johannes Jacobus Prins (1814–1898), Dutch theologian
Lodewijk Prins (1913–1999), Dutch chess player
Nomi Prins, American author and journalist
de:Pierre Ernest Prins (1838–1913), French painter and sculptor
Piet Prins, pen name of Piet Jongeling (1909–1985), Dutch politician and children's book author
Ray Prins (born 1951), Canadian politician
Stanislav Prins (born 1988), Estonian footballer
