Surname Geertsema - Meaning and Origin
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Geertsema: What does the surname Geertsema mean?
The last name Geertsema is of Dutch origin, and is derived from two words; "Geerd" meaning 'renowned spear' and "ma" which is an archaic word meaning 'by'. Together, the combination suggests a name that is very closely associated with battle and warfare.
Historically, the Geertsema family has been known as a family of soldiers, warriors, and heroes, with many people of the family displaying remarkably impressive bravery and courage in the face of danger. In fact, the Geertsema family is known to have a long history of notable military achievement; for instance, in 1566, two brothers of the family, Tjeu and Ruben Geerdesma, singlehandedly defended a portion of the Rhine river against invasion until their deaths.
The qualities of bravery and strength are therefore closely ingrained in the lineage of the Geertsema family, representing both a heritage and an identity that has been passed down through generations of famous warriors. Even today, the surname Geertsema is still a strong indication of bravery and honour; those carrying the Geertsema name evidence strength and courage, and enjoy a level of respect in their community.
Order DNA origin analysisGeertsema: Where does the name Geertsema come from?
The last name Geertsema is a Dutch patronymic surname and it is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. It is also still present in some areas of Northern Germany. This surname is most commonly found in rural areas, as it was assumed by many individuals who resided in rural areas in the past.
Geertsema originates from the given name Geert, which is an ancient Germanic name. The name likely comes from the Old Germanic words “gaira” and “zemu” which roughly translates to “home protector”. It was a very popular name in the early centuries due to its meaning and significance, and it spread to many different countries in Europe in later years.
Geertsema is quite a popular name in the Netherlands, with the Netherlands Information Network suggesting that it is among the top 500 most common names in the Netherlands. It is also found in some parts of Northern Germany, such as Schleswig-Holstein.
Elsewhere in the world, there are fewer occurrences of this last name. However, due to the Dutch diaspora, members of the Geertsema family can be found in other parts of the world as well, particularly in the United States and Canada. They are also present in places like Suriname, which was a former Dutch colony. Thus, the last name Geertsema is mostly found in the Netherlands and areas of Northern Germany, as well as in regions where Dutch emigrants have settled over the years.
Variations of the surname Geertsema
Geertsema is a Dutch surname of patronymic origin. The original bearer of the surname derived their name from the personal name Gijsbert or Geert, a vernacular form of the first name Gilbert. As such, the surname Geertsema is derived from the Dutch words "geert", meaning "bright spear", and "sema", meaning "son". Variants of the surname Geertsema in contemporary Dutch include Geertsma, Gerritsema, and Gerzema. Other spellings of the name include Gerritsema, Gerritsma, Geersema, Geersma, Geerzma, Geerzema, Giersema, and Giersma. Variants of the surname Wolffram developed in other languages include Gertsema in Afrikaans, Geertsmann in German and Gertsman in Russian.
The surname Geertsema is an uncommon surname, particularly outside of the Netherlands, and is most strongly represented in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. It is estimated that fewer than 400 individuals with the surname Geertsema currently reside in the United States.
Famous people with the name Geertsema
- Johan Geertsema: Dutch university lecturer and author
- Jack Geertsema: Former coach and player in the NHL
- Henk Geertsema: Dutch linguist and language educator
- Tim Geertsema: Former professional football player in the NFL
- Liesbeth Geertsema: Dutch cyclist
- Jans Geertsema: Dutch sculptor
- Jerry Geertsema: Canadian hockey coach
- Geert Geertsema: Dutch artist
- Joop Geertsema: Dutch linguist and author
- Jaap Geertsema: Dutch composer