Surname Geerdsema - Meaning and Origin

Geerdsema: What does the surname Geerdsema mean?

The last name Geerdsema is a patronymic Dutch surname, derived from the given name of Geert, a pet form of the Dutch name Gerhard. The name is composed of two elements, the first being “geer”, derived from the Germanic element ger meaning “spear.” The second part, “dsema”, is an old Dutch diminutive suffix meaning “son of” or “descendant of.” Therefore, the literal translation of the name Geerdsema is “son of Gerhard”, indicating that it is given to the descendant of a man with the personal name Gerhard.

The Geerdsema surname can be found in many countries with Dutch heritage, including the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and the United States. In the United States, the earliest recorded mention of the Geerdsema name was in 1656, when Gerret van Geertsema arrived in the South River Colony, in present-day New Jersey. This colony was part of the Dutch settlement in the area that is now New York.

The Geerdsema name has since spread throughout the world, with the current population of individuals with the name being estimated at over 140,000 worldwide. It is most common in the Netherlands and Germany, but variations in spelling and pronunciation are found in many other countries.

Overall, the name Geerdsema has Dutch origin and is likely derived from the personal name Gerhard, indicating its connection to a line of descendants. It has a presence in many countries worldwide, with the most concentrated number of individuals being located in the Netherlands and Germany.

Geerdsema: Where does the name Geerdsema come from?

The last name Geerdsema is quite rare. According to the United States Census Bureau (USCB), as of May 2020, this surname is found in only 292 households in the United States. It is slightly more popular in the Netherlands with 1,380 recorded people bearing this name.

The origin of the Geerdsema surname is Dutch, meaning "son of Geerdt." Geerdt means strong spear, and the surname was originated by those who had this first name. Geerdsema is believed to have originated in the rural province of Friesland in the Netherlands.

Geerdsema is most commonly found in the United States in California, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Wisconsin - suggesting those with the surname originally immigrated to the United States coming from the Netherlands. The other countries where the Geerdsema surname can be found are Canada, Australia and the Netherlands, with a small portion also present in South Africa.

The surname is still prominent among Dutch citizens today, with many bearing this last name in the Friesland province and beyond. Those wanting to trace their tra­­­­­­ditional Dutch roots can use the Dutch National archives to track down where their ancestors may have settled and discover historical documents to help map out their family's history.

Variations of the surname Geerdsema

Geerdsema is an uncommon Dutch surname of Frisian-Flemish origin, derived from a patronymic derived from the given name Geert meaning ‘spear’. Variations of the surname include Gerdsema, Gerdsma, Gerdsen and Gerdsenma, all of which are derived from the same source. The names have also been found to develop in other areas, such as Germany and the U.S., where there are now variants including Gersema, Gerdsenma, Girdsema, and Girsema.

The spelling of the surname has generally remained consistent, and earlier spellings of the name have a significantly lower frequency than the current version. In addition to this, as far as the Frisian language is concerned, many Frisians have adopted the use of double letters in the spelling of Geerdsema, replacing the second 'e' with an 'ee'.

In some cases, the surname has been further compounded by the addition of a prefix or Suffix, such as Gerdsema-Homan, Gerdsen-Jongman or Gerdsenma-Lansing. Furthermore, some families have adopted alternate spelling variants such as Gierdsema or Gerdesema, and some have opted to simply substitute an alternative letter such as a ‘G’ for the ‘Ge’ in the spelling of their surname.

Overall, the spelling variants of this Dutch surname remain fairly consistent, and its exact spelling is mostly limited to the preferences of the particular family unit.

Famous people with the name Geerdsema

• Abigail Geerdsema: Abigail is a writer, blogger, editor, and speaker with a passion for building positive media experiences for young women.
• Joanna Geerdsema: Joanna is a Dutch fashion designer who focuses on creating clothing for people who want to make their own style.
• Peter Geerdsema: Peter is an auto mechanic and racing driver from the Netherlands. He is a former scaffolding contractor in his own right.
• Cora Geerdsema: Cora is a Dutch film producer who has worked on a series of educational films for schools and colleges.
• Robert Geerdsema: Robert is a Dutch architect who designs public buildings, from civic centers and museums to private residences.
• Stephan Geerdsema: Stephan is a Dutch composer and producer who has composed music for films, theater, television, and commercials.
• Elizabeth Geerdsema: Elizabeth is an American news anchor who works as the weekend news anchor for CBS Evening News.
• Jan Geerdsema: Jan is a Dutch painter who specializes in expressionist art with a focus on dramatic, often Tai Chi-inspired, abstracts.
• Wouter Geerdsema: Wouter is a Dutch marketing and advertising professional specializing in innovative ways of advertising to target audiences.
• Mia Geerdsema: Mia is a Dutch biochemist and nutritionist who specializes in health food and supplements for pregnant women.

Other surnames

Geerdsen