Surname Hoekstra - Meaning and Origin
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Hoekstra: What does the surname Hoekstra mean?
The last name 'Hoekstra' is a Dutch toponymic surname meaning "from the corner", derived from the Dutch word 'hoek' meaning corner, and 'stra' a common suffix used to create a toponymic surname.
The surname is typically found in the province of Friesland (formerly known as Frisia) in the Netherlands, a region of historic Germanic settlement in the area since the 5th century. Hoekstra is one of the many surnames derived from various towns, villages, and settlements in Frisia.
The surname may also be an occupational name, in which it originated from someone who lived near a corner or served as a turner of wood, given the profession’s frequent association with a corner or 90-degree angle.
In modern times, Hoekstra is a very common surname in the Netherlands with over 8,000 Dutch people currently listed in the Netherlands Phone Book who bear the surname. It is also sparsely found in other countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa where some individuals of Dutch ancestry may have also migrated over time.
Order DNA origin analysisHoekstra: Where does the name Hoekstra come from?
The last name Hoekstra is commonly found in the Netherlands, where it is one of the most popular surnames in the country. It is also found in other parts of Europe, especially in the Netherlands’ neighboring countries such as Germany, Belgium, and France, as well as in states of the United States with a large Dutch population, such as Michigan and Oregon.
In the Netherlands, the last name originates from de Hoekstra, meaning "from the corner." Tales of when a family moved their way out of the Dutch countryside to city life may have associated the name with the corner of the streets in towns or cities. The term ‘Hoek’ means ‘corner’ or ‘angle’ in Dutch.
The most popular places for Hoekstra in the Netherlands today are the provinces of South Holland, Flevoland, and Overijssel. There are also Hoekstras in the Netherlands Antilles, such as Curaçao, where many emigrated in the 19th and 20th centuries to work in the oil industry.
In the United States, the most popular states for the Hoekstra surname are Michigan, Nebraska, and Oregon, according to the U.S. Census Bureau data for 2020.
In Canada, the last name is generally found in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Overall, the last name Hoekstra is most commonly found in the Netherlands, followed by other parts of Europe, and the United States and Canada. It is an old Dutch name, most likely first used by families who moved away from rural areas to urban centers in the past.
Variations of the surname Hoekstra
The surname Hoekstra is an ancient Dutch patronymic surname that originated from a combination of additional Dutch words. The surname derives from the Dutch word 'hoek' meaning corner, cornerstone, and 'stra' meaning street. The literal English translation of the surname is Corner Street.
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hoekstra include:
-Hoeckstra,
-Hoeckstra,
-Hoeckstre,
-Hoecksma,
-Hoecksstra,
-Hoecksstre,
-Huikstra,
-Haikstra,
-Haekstra,
-Hoikstra.
The Dutch spelling of Hoekstra is Huikstra, Haikstra, and Haekstra, while the German spelling is Hoecksma, Hoeckstra, and Hoecksstre. On the other hand, Hoekstra and Hoeckstra are primarily found in the United States. The English equivalent of this surname is Cornerstone.
Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland. They are a result of the increasing population which resulted from the continental migration in the nineteenth century and the expansion of the industrial revolution. The way of life simply changed with the introduction of railways, as people were no longer restricted to living in small villages and began to move around and eventually to settle in bigger towns and cities.
Therefore, due to the abovementioned factors, the surname Hoekstra has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that have been used over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Hoekstra
- Harold Hoekstra: American college basketball coach
- Marc Hoekstra: Dutch Paralympic swimmer
- Joel Hoekstra: American musician, songwriter, producer, and actor
- Hendrick Hoekstra: Dutch mentor, strategist, and entrepreneur
- Oane Hoekstra: Dutch Professor of Family Law
- Remko Hoekstra: Dutch Paralympic swimmer
- Tim Hoekstra: Dutch automotive entrepreneur and investor
- Wiebe Hoekstra: Dutch footballer
- John D. Hoekstra: American political scientist
- Jan Hoekstra: Dutch painter, illustrator, and artist