Surname Dijkman - Meaning and Origin

Dijkman: What does the surname Dijkman mean?

The last name Dijkman originates from the Netherlands. The name is derived from the Dutch word "dijk," which refers to a type of dam or embankment. This type of structure was used in the Netherlands for centuries to protect low-lying land from flooding. This is evidenced by the famous tree-lined Zuiderzee dikes which were built in the 12th century.

The name Dijkman is thought to have evolved from its original roots as a way to indicate a person's occupation or status. Someone who built or maintained these dikes would have been called "dijkman." Over centuries, the family name was adopted by the extended family and began to be used as a surname.

Throughout history, the name Dijkman has evolved to various spellings, as is typical with many Dutch surnames. In its various variations, the name still carries the same root meaning: someone related to or associated with the building and maintenance of dikes.

Various derivations of the name Dijkman may also provide clues as to a person's regional and family history. For example, someone with the variant spelling "Dijkmans" may hail from the province of Zeeland, which is known for its intricate network of dikes and embankments protecting its coastal lands.

In short, the name Dijkman has centuries of history steeped in the Dutch culture and tradition of maintaining embankments and dikes to protect low-lying coastal land from flooding. The origin of the name gives insight into a family's history, and its various spellings are an indication of the region they may hail from.

Dijkman: Where does the name Dijkman come from?

The last name Dijkman is most common in the Netherlands, where it ranks as the 155th most common surname. In other European countries, such as Belgium, it is also fairly common. According to WorldNames PublicProfiler, the surname is found in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Estonia, and Latvia in small but significant numbers.

Outside Europe, the surname Dijkman is not particularly common. It is found sporadically in the United States, where it typically has Dutch and Belgian roots. It is also present in Australia and New Zealand, likely due to the influx of Dutch immigrants in the 1950s and 60s.

In South Africa, the surname is found more commonly among Coloured people, mainly in the Cape Flats area of the Western Cape Province. In this region, the surname is likely derived from the Dutch surname De Jong and is possibly a patronymic name.

In short, the surname Dijkman is most common in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking countries in Europe. Outside of Europe, it is present but not especially common, gaining some presence in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Variations of the surname Dijkman

The surname Dijkman is of Dutch origin and derived from a pre-seventeenth century Dutch word 'dijke', meaning a dyke or dike.

Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:

Dijkema – derived from the original spelling of ‘Dijke’

Dijken – derived from an archaic variant of the original spelling

Dijkers – derived from a plural form of the original spelling

Dijkstra – derived from the addition of the Dutch suffix ‘stra’ denoting someone who lived near a dyke.

Dykstra – a simplified form of the above variant

Dikeman – derived from an alternative spelling of the original word ‘dijke’

Deijkers – derived from the original spelling and the addition of the Dutch prefix ‘de’, denoting someone who came from a place of dykes.

The variation is further influenced by regional dialects of the Dutch language, for instance Jensen being the equivalent of Dijkman in some parts of the Netherlands.

Dijkman is also found as a separately derived surname from the Germanic name ‘Dagmar’, being the compound of two elements, ‘dag’ (day) and ‘mar’ (famous). However, given the absence of any linguistic similarity to the Dutch surname, this is considered to be a separate version of origin.

Famous people with the name Dijkman

• Vincent Dijkman: Dutch soccer player currently playing for Jong PSV, a Dutch satellite club of PSV Eindhoven.
• Eric Dijkman: Dutch soccer player who became the 2008 Dutch Footballer of the Year.
• Rutger Dijkman: Dutch voice actor, storyboard artist, and director.
• Marc Dijkman: Dutch rower who won the bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in the Men's eights event.
• Freke Dijkman: Dutch soccer player who previously played for Ajax, Excelsior, and Sparta Rotterdam.
• Adriaan Dijkman: Dutch football referee who took charge of the bronze medal match at the 2004 Summer Olympics between Italy and Iraq.
• Joe Dijkman: Dutch speed skater who won the bronze medal in the 500m at the 1983 World Championships in Medeo, Kazakhstan.
• Monique Dijkman-Klapwijk: Dutch ecological conservationist who serves as the coordinator of the Latin American Alliance for the Protection of the Environment.
• Geertje Dijkman: Dutch composer who wrote the score for the 2007 film Sterke Verhalen.
• Arjen Dijkman: Dutch soccer player who played for clubs like Fortuna Sittard, Helmond Sport, and Heracles Almelo.

Other surnames

Dijkmans