Surname Dykema - Meaning and Origin

Dykema: What does the surname Dykema mean?

The last name Dykema is of Dutch origin, and its meaning refers to the family's geographic origin. Specifically, it is derived from the words "dijk," meaning "dike" or "dam," and "ma," meaning "hamlet" or "dwelling." Thus, the name essentially translates to "dweller of the dike."

Originally, the surname Dykema was used to refer to a person who lived near an area where a canal had been created. In many places in the Netherlands, water management is necessary for agriculture and flood prevention, so it is not difficult to understand why people who lived close to such areas may have received such a surname.

In addition, the name may also refer to a person's occupation. Indeed, many Dykemas throughout history had occupations that involved the repair or building of canals and dikes. In fact, over time, the word dykema has come to mean a person working in the dyke industry.

Today, the surname Dykema is a common name across the world. Many families with this surname keep the history of the Dykema name alive by sharing the historical stories and details of their family's origin.

Dykema: Where does the name Dykema come from?

The Dykema surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands, where it is a variation of the name Dirkse. It is also a fairly common surname in the United States, where many Dutch immigrants settled in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Dykema surname is most prevalent in the American Midwest, particularly in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. It is frequently found in counties along the lake shore of both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, though it is also widely distributed in other Midwest states such as Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri.

In other parts of the United States, Dykema can be found in Southern states such as Florida and Texas, as well as in California and New York. The Dykema surname can also be found throughout Canada, particularly in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.

Globally, the last name Dykema is particularly widespread in the Netherlands, and among the Dutch diaspora in countries such as the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. There are also a number of variations of the surname around the world, such as Dykeman, Dirkse, and Dijkman.

No matter where it is found, this Dutch surname has certainly left its mark throughout history.

Variations of the surname Dykema

The surname Dykema is a Dutch patronymic surname meaning “son of Dyke”. It is also occasionally spelled as Dykmans, Dykman or Dikema. In the Middle Ages, many Dutch surnames were derived from nicknames or occupational names. Dykema is derived from the nickname given to a person who lived near a dyke or a ditch.

The Dykema surname is a fairly common surname in the Netherlands. It can also be found in the United States, where it was first brought by Dutch immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the United States, the surname can be found spelled as Dykmans, Dykman, Dykema, Dikema, or Dikeman.

Variants of the surname Dykema can be found related to other language versions of Dykema. These variants include Dycman from Belgium, Dykjman from Switzerland, Diectema from Germany, and Diecteima from Canada. Other spellings of the surname include Dijkman, Dykman and Dykeman.

Other surnames of the same origin include Dijkstra, Dykman, Dijk, Dijksestra, and Dykema. Dykema is the plural version of the Dyke surname, which is derived from a Dutch word meaning “dike”. Other surnames of Dutch origin that are related to the Dykema surname include Dekker, Heijmans, and Seidenstricker.

In summary, Dykema is a Dutch patronymic surname meaning “son of Dyke”. It can also be spelled as Dykmans, Dykman, or Dikema. Variants of the surname can be found related to other languages and spellings of Dykema, including Dycman, Dykjman, Diectema, Dykman, Dykeman, Dijkstra, Dykman, Dijk, Dijksestra, and Dykema. Other surnames of the same origin include Dekker, Heijmans, and Seidenstricker.

Famous people with the name Dykema

• Deb Dykema: Professional bassoonist and freelance musician, based in Toronto, Ontario.
• David Dykema: Attorney specializing in bankruptcy and creditor’s rights law.
• Victoria Dykema: Former field hockey star at Princeton University and Harvard Business School alumni.
• Alex Dykema: Professional MMA fighter and former amateur middleweight champion.
• Chris Dykema: Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Physics Department at Carnegie Mellon University.
• Kevin Dykema: Award-winning African American producer, director, cinematographer, editor, and photographer.
• Paul Dykema: Award-winning jazz saxophonist.
• Robert Dykema: American politician who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from January 2011 to January 2017.
• Robert L. Dykema: World War II Veteran who served in the United States Army, for which he was honored with the Bronze Star.
• Katherine Dykema: Columnist with the Lansing State Journal, focusing on business stories from around the state of Michigan.

Other surnames

Dykeman