Surname Reemtsema - Meaning and Origin
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Reemtsema: What does the surname Reemtsema mean?
The surname Reemtsema is a patronymic Dutch surname, arising from the first name Reem. Patronymic surnames are created by adding suffixes to a father's first name to denote his children. In the case of Reemtsema, the suffix -tsema is added to indicate "son of Reem". As such, Reemtsema is closely related to other Dutch patronymic surnames such as Reemstra, Reemers, and Reemtz.
Reem is of Germanic origin, possibly stemming from the name Rainhard which is composed of the words ragin (counsel) and hard (hardy, brave). Thus, the name Reem indicates a brave and decisive person who perhaps provides good counsel and advice. It is likely that the Reemtsema family carried the name through multiple generations, and thus over time the name developed autonomy from its origin.
The Reemtsema name is of fairly common in the Netherlands today, with the highest concentration in the province of Friesland. This is where the family has resided since at least the 16th century, indicating that the name originated in this part of the Netherlands. The earliest record of the Reemtsema name is found in the archives of the Friesland government, dated 1742. This associates it with the small village of Bartlehiem, located in Schiermonnikoog, Friesland, where the family is believed to have taken root.
Given its long history and deep roots in the Netherlands, the Reemtsema name is steeped in heritage, referring to a brave, decisive ancestor who likely provided stability and strength to a growing family.
Order DNA origin analysisReemtsema: Where does the name Reemtsema come from?
The last name Reemtsema is a Dutch surname that is spelled a variety of ways, such as Remtsema and Reemtsma. It is most common today in some areas of the Northern Netherlands, especially the province of Groningen. In the Netherlands, there are over 400 people with the last name Reemtsema, but the name is relatively rare as a whole. The surname can also be found in some areas of the United States, especially in Wisconsin, which has an important Dutch heritage. Oftentimes, people of Dutch descent in the United States changed the spelling of their names when they immigrated. In the United States, Reemtsema is still most prevalent in Wisconsin, although there are other pockets of people with the name scattered all over the country. Interestingly, the last name Reemtsema is most commonly held by people of Dutch-Mexican ethnicity who immigrated from the Netherlands to Mexico and eventually to the United States. Although the Reemtsema name is not particularly common today, it is a part of Dutch-American heritage and should continue to be shared and cherished.
Variations of the surname Reemtsema
The surname Reemtsema is a Dutch patronymic surname meaning “son of Reemt”. It is also sometimes spelled as “Remtsema” or “Remtsma”. Variants of this surname include “Reemst”, “Reemsma”, “Reemstra”, “Reemersma”, “Reemertsma”, “Remersma”, “Remest”, “Remstra” as well as the German “Reemts”, “Remts”, and “Remtse”.
The surname may also appear as “Riemstma”, “Riemtsema”, “Remstma”, “Riemstra” and “Riemersma”, which may be derived from the Dutch names “Riem”, “Riems” or “Riemer”.
Other spellings of Reemtsema include “Reemsen”, which is a form of the Old English given names “Reems” or “Rimond”. Additionally, “Reemersen”, “Reemerssen”, “Remme”, “Riemens”, “Remmens”, “Remmie” and “Remmersen” may all be variants of the surname.
Lastly, surnames of similar origin and pronunciation include “Reems”, “Reemers”, “Remmels”, “Remmink”, “Riemers”, “Riemersma”, “Remkens” and “Remmelt”.
Famous people with the name Reemtsema
- Ken Reemtsema: Ken Reemtsema is a former mayor of Rochester, Minnesota, who served two consecutive terms in the 1980s.
- Keegan Reemtsema: Keegan Reemtsema is a professional Australian rules football player for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League.
- Kiley Reemtsema: Kiley Reemtsema is an American Olympic freestyle skier. She began her career in freestyle skiing in 2005, and has since represented the U.S. in numerous competitions.
- Kirstin Reemtsema: Kirstin Reemtsema is an American triathlete and cyclist. She has finished the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii multiple times.
- Kristine Reemtsema: Kristine Reemtsema is a Belgian eurodance artist and vocalist. She is best known for her hit single, "Heart of Gold," which reached the top of the charts in various countries in 2003.
- Kyrsten Reemtsema: Kyrsten Reemtsema is an American actor and TV host. She is best known for her role on the hit show "It's All Relevant."
- Kim Reemtsema: Kim Reemtsema is a former professional volleyball player from The Netherlands, who made her international debut in 1992.