Surname Hoekema - Meaning and Origin

Hoekema: What does the surname Hoekema mean?

The surname Hoekema is of Dutch origin and is found primarily in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking countries. It is composed of two elements: hoeke, meaning ‘corner or nook’, and ma, meaning ‘field’ or ‘meadow’. The name therefore translates as someone living in, or near, a corner of a meadow or field.

The earliest written record of the surname dates from 1217 in the Dutch city of Delft, when Hermanus Atlec Gorisoneen was recorded as having a debt of 2 marten pelts (fur) to dear friend Hoencool van Hoekema.

Hoekema is fairly uncommon today, but in the past century has been used as a given name in the Netherlands, although given name use is not as common as surnames.

Hoekema today is most likely to be found in Dutch-speaking countries and is sometimes anglicized to the modern variants of 'Hoekma' and 'Hoekman'. It is also not uncommon for the letter 'e' in the name to be dropped, making the name sound more like ‘Hokma’ or ‘Hokman’.

Hoekema: Where does the name Hoekema come from?

The last name Hoekema is most commonly found in the Netherlands, specifically in the north of the country. The name is a Dutch patronymic, which means that it refers to a son of, or descendant of, a male ancestor with the given name of Hoeke. It is mainly found in the provinces of Friesland, Noord- Holland, and Groningen, and it is also used in a few parts of the United States, such as Wisconsin and Michigan.

In its native land, the name Hoekema is found in both rural and urban areas. It remains most common in the north of the Netherlands, where it was first established. It is popular in all of the aforementioned provinces, but it is especially popular in Friesland, where it ranks amongst the most common last names.

The name is also found in a few small numbers across the world, such as in the US, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. In these countries, it is likely that it is descended through former Dutch settlers that left the Netherlands in the early 19th century.

Overall, the name Hoekema is most prevalent in the Netherlands, and those that bear the name typically have their roots there. It is a well-established name, with an exotic backstory that has been passed down through the generations.

Variations of the surname Hoekema

The surname Hoekema is derived from an old Dutch word ‘hoeke’ which means ‘nook’ or ‘corner’. The variants of this surname include Hökema, Hoogeboom, Hoogenboom, Hoekema, Horkema and Huiking. The variant spellings of this surname are Hoekma, Hoogma and Hoekema.

The surname Hoekema first emerged in the province of Groningen during the Middle Ages. It was also found in Friesland province at the time, but has become much more common in Groningen. In recent years, the surname has spread to other provinces such as North Holland, Drenthe, and Flevoland. It has long been an uncommon surname in the Netherlands but is now beginning to become more popular.

The surnames that originate from the same family name Hoekema are Hoogeboom, Hoogenboom, Hoekema, Horkema and Huiking. Hoogeboom and Hoogenboom are Dutch topographic surnames that were given to people who lived near hills or an elevated location. Hoekema is believed to come from a place called ‘Hoekem’, while Horkema is highly likely to come from the old Dutch word ‘horck’, meaning a piece of land. Huiking is thought to be an adaptation of the surname Horkema as many people who used the latter started to use the spelling Huiking instead. All of these surnames originate from the same family name and have similar spelling variations.

In conclusion, the surname Hoekema has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin including Hoogeboom, Hoogenboom, Hoekema, Horkema and Huiking. Each surname has different spellings and is believed to have originated from different places.

Famous people with the name Hoekema

• Andries Hoekema (OOlympic athlete)
• Harmina Hoekema (Dutch swimmer)
• John Hoekema (American politician)
• Wiebe Hoekema (Dutch footballer)
• Anne Marie Hoekema (American author)
• Douwe Hoekema (Dutch musician)
• Bert Hoekema (Dutch philosopher)
• Jan Hoekema (Dutch theologian)
• Sytse Hoekema (Dutch entrepreneur)
• Jan Renze Hoekema (Dutch arachneologist)
• Wil Hoekema (Dutch philosopher)
• Hoekema, Walli (Dutch sculptor)
• Frey Hoekema (Dutch footballer)
• Brian Hoekema (American actor)
• Alex van Hoekema (Dutch artist)
• Jan J. Hoekema (Dutch pastor)
• Dutch Hoekema (American Perfumer)
• Hoekema, Stan (Dutch producer)
• Coen Hoekema (Dutch composer)
• Micha Hoekema (Dutch visual artist)

Other surnames

Hoeker