Surname Dijksma - Meaning and Origin

Dijksma: What does the surname Dijksma mean?

The surname Dijksma is a Dutch name derived from Middle Dutch terms for "dike man" or "dike worker." The name is though to have been originally used to indicate an individual who was involved in the construction and maintenance of dikes, which are structures built to prevent flooding or contain water.

Genetically, this surname is found predominantly in the Netherlands and in the Netherlands-adjacent regions of Germany and Belgium. Records of the name date back to the late eighteenth century, when a farmer named Jacob Dirks Dijksma was listed as a resident of Ubbergen, a small village in Gelderland.

The name itself is best seen as an occupational surname, one that indicates the profession of the individual's ancestors. It is not a common name, but there are a few more notable individuals with Dijksma as their last name in the Netherlands today.

Some of these individuals include Sybrand Dijksma, a politician, and Erik Dijksma, a former Dutch Minister for the Environment. It is also one of the last names of the Dijksma sisters, Alya, Marya, and Maria, who appeared in the Dutch film Broers in 2016.

In conclusion, the Dutch surname Dijksma is an occupational name derived from Middle Dutch terms used to refer to the people involved in building and maintaining dikes. Currently, the Dijksma name is still used in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, and there are a few notable individuals with this surname living in the Netherlands today.

Dijksma: Where does the name Dijksma come from?

The surname Dijksma is most commonly associated with the Netherlands today. Many Dutch people with this name originate from the northern region of Friesland, where the largest concentration of the surname is found. This is likely because the name is derived from the old Dutch word ‘Dijc’, which means ‘a dike,’ referring to low-lying land or a river dike.

Over time, many people with this surname have moved around the Netherlands and outside of the country, primarily to the United States, Canada, and Australia. Today, their descendants are scattered among many different nations, with the most current estimates stating that over 20,000 people carry the Dijksma surname in the USA alone.

The surname is not a one off and has relatives in other countries such as Germany and Norway. In Germany, the spelling is changed to Dirks and Dyksma and, in Norway, has been changed to Dygax. Similarly, other spelling variations exist, such as Dyksen, Dykgsma, and Dyksman.

Despite having its roots in the Netherlands, the surname Dijksma is quite popular worldwide today. Its history and provenance add an interesting story to many people's own histories, as Dijksma descendants continue to trace their origins and explore their unique heritage.

Variations of the surname Dijksma

The surname Dijksma is of Dutch origin and is traditionally spelled as Dijksma, but there are several variants and spellings that exist. Variants include Dykstra, Dyksterhuis, Dieksma, Dieksma, Deyksma, Dycksterhuis, Dykhuis, and Dycksterhuizen.

Due to the phonetic nature of spoken Dutch, variations in spelling can occur as different people may interpret a single name differently. The same is true for the variations in surnames of the same origin due to spelling changes like name merging and name splitting. As a result, the names have evolved over time, and there are now multiple versions of the same names, all of which can be traced back to the original Dutch Dijksma.

Within the Netherlands, the most commonly seen variants are Dykstra and Dyksterhuis, for example. The spelling Dykstra is derived from the Dutch word Dyk, which means dike. This root word points to its origin in the Dutch countryside, as the name likely has some connection to land ownership near a body of water like a river or lake.

In the United States, the spelling has undergone a greater transformation. The spelling Dieksma is widely distributed across the country, with a particularly high concentration in the state of Iowa. Meanwhile, the spelling Deyksma is found predominantly in the American Midwest, and the spelling Dycksterhuis has been seen in Washington, Oregon, and California.

It is also possible to come across the shorter forms of the name, such as Dykhuis and Dycksterhuizen, which may be used in more informal settings. In some cases, the name has also been abbreviated to just “Dijks” or “Dijk”, but this is less common.

Regardless of the different spellings and variants, the surname Dijksma is linked by its Dutch roots, offering a connection between descendants of the family even if their spelling now varies.

Famous people with the name Dijksma

• Wilma Dijksma: (born 1954) is a Dutch politician, member of the Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). She is a former Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Interior and Kingdom Relations.
• Jurjen Dijksma: (born 1976) a Dutch artist and sculptor.
• Marijke Dijksma: (born 1956) a Dutch politician, member of the Democratic 66 (D66). She is the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management since 2017.
• Robert Dijksma: (born 1963) is a former Dutch track and field athlete who specialized in the high jump event.
• Jaap Dijksma: (born 1947) a Dutch politician, member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). He has served as a Minister in the Dutch Cabinet from 1994-2002 in various roles including Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries, and Social Affairs and Employment.
• Jordy Dijksma: (born 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as midfielder for the Dutch football club PSV Eindhoven.
• Willem Jan Dijksma: (born 1932) a Dutch politician, member of the Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He was Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment from 1989-1994.

Other surnames

Dijkstra