Neukermans, Okegem

The first documented Neukermans in my family tree settled in Okegem after 1693. I am still trying to find out where they came from in those turbulent times.

Jacobus Neukermans, son of Petrus, married Maria De Winne in Okegem on February 2 1719. They had twelve children. Jacobus died in Okegem on January 9 1773. Maria died in Okegem on April 16 1774. I am a descendant of Jacobus and Maria.

Andreas (Andries) Neukermans, son of Judocus, married Barbara Van den Waterloop in Okegem on September 7 1698. They had five children. Barbara was a daughter of Henricus Van den Waterloop and Joanna De Winne. She was baptised in Okegem on February 11 1669.
Andries died on March 8 1750 in Okegem, Barbara preceded him on April 20 1748.

Jacobus and Andreas probably were related ; their spouses may have been related too (through the De Winne family).

Neither Jacobus, nor Andreas resided in Okegem in 1693 when a census was held. Neither did their fathers.

There are some very loose indications that the Neukermans family originated somewhere in the region between Ninove, Geraardsbergen, Oudenaarde and Enghien. The eldest - but up to now unrelated - namesakes are to be found in Lettelingen (Petit Enghien).
The variations in the name are wide : Neu(c)kermans, Neu(c)kerman(s), Van de Neu(c)ker, Nekerman, Nekelmans, Noterman(s) a.s.o.

Does anyone have further information about the provenance of these ancestors ?