Surname Broekema - Meaning and Origin
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Broekema: What does the surname Broekema mean?
The last name Broekema is an old Dutch name originating from the northern part of the Netherlands. The name has its roots in the Dutch word "Broek", which means "Marsh", and "Ema" which means "Home". Therefore, the name Broekema literally translates as "Home in the Marsh". This geographical origin may imply that at one point the family lived in or near marshy areas, indicating that the Broekema family has likely been in the Netherlands for centuries.
In more recent times, the last name Broekema has primarily been found in the northern provinces of the Netherlands, particularly Friesland. In this area, the name is particularly common, appearing as both a surname and as a place name.
The name Broekema is typical of Dutch surnames, in that it is a patronymic name (one that is derived from the given name of the father) derived from the old Dutch personal name "Broec". A "brocker" was a kind of trader, and the name was likely taken on by a family in the Middle ages who had taken up the trade.
The name Broekema is still common among Dutch families today, and is a reminder of the family's origins and the area in which they settled and lived for centuries. It is likely that many Dutch families that carry the name today can trace their ancestry back to the same marshy areas and family trades of centuries gone by.
Order DNA origin analysisBroekema: Where does the name Broekema come from?
The last name Broekema is most common in the Netherlands today. According to the Netherlands GenWeb, the surname originated in the village of Broek in the Dutch province of Friesland. The name likely derived from a combination of the Dutch words "broek" (bog or marshland) and "kema" (low land). The earliest known recording of the surname dates back to 1300.
The name is still relatively common in the Netherlands today, with around 5,000 people bearing the surname nationwide. This number does not include its various variants, such as Breukema, Vrookema and Drost-Broekema. The highest concentrations of Broekema are in the provinces of Friesland and North Holland. In the provincial capital of Leeuwarden, nearly 300 people have the name Broekema. The surname is also found in other European countries such as France, Germany and Denmark.
It is also possible to find the Broekema name in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. An estimated 200 individuals hold the name in these countries, though it is not as prevalent as in the Netherlands. The Broekema name is also seen in countries as far away as Brazil and Australia.
The Broekema name has a long history in the Netherlands and is still relatively common today. Its variants are found around the world, providing evidence of the prevalence of the name.
Variations of the surname Broekema
The spelling variants and surnames of origin for the surname Broekema are quite numerous.
The most common variants of the surname Broekema are Broekman, Broekma, Broekmans and Broekmans Ma. These variants are likely derived from the Dutch “Broek”, which itself derives from the Middle Dutch “Brōk” meaning “marsh”.
It’s also likely that the surname originated from Broekhuizen, a small village in the Netherlands. Another variant of the surname is Broekhuis, derived from the village.
Other variants of the surname that can be attributed to Broekema are Breukelen, Broekkamp, Brockman, Broekhuizen, Brockma, Brockmeyer, and pro-dialectical examples of the family surname, such as Bröckhüser, Breckhpusen, Bruhkamen and Breukema.
The surname can be found all over the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, but is not limited to Europe. The Broekmans family, for example, were settlers in South Africa in the 19th century.
The surname has even been found in the United States. In particular, the American spelling of the surname, assuming a Dutch origin, is Brockman. The Brockman family immigrated to Pennsylvania in the early 19th century from their homeland in Germany.
Regardless of spelling or geographic location, all of the variants in some way trace their origin back to the surname Broekema and its Middle Dutch predecessor, Broek.
Famous people with the name Broekema
- Iris Broekema: Dutch politician and former Member of the Dutch parliament from 1997-2015.
- Tom Broekema: Dutch speed skater, who competed for the Netherlands at the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1968.
- Harold Broekema: Dutch professor and politician for the Christian Democratic Appeal party.
- Haakon Broekema: Dutch composer, who has written works for the Dutch National Opera.
- Ivo Broekema: Dutch modern pentathlete, who was part of the Dutch team in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Inge Broekema: Dutch politician and former Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries from 2005-2010.
- Tineke Broekema: Dutch singer-songwriter and TV presenter.
- Peter Broekema: Dutch particle physicist and professor at the University of Amsterdam.
- Klaas Broekema: Dutch entrepreneur and founder of Broekema Corporate Logistics.
- Marco Broekema: Dutch footballer who plays as a midfielder for SC Cambuur.