Surname Steenstra - Meaning and Origin
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Steenstra: What does the surname Steenstra mean?
The last name Steenstra is a Dutch surname, derived from the word ‘steen’, meaning ‘stone’ or ‘rock’, and the suffix ‘stra’ often signifying an association with a specific place. Together, Steenstra could mean either ‘dweller near the rocks’ or ‘son of a stonemason or stonecutter’.
The Steenstra family originates from the town of Boskoop in the Dutch province of South Holland, known for its orchards and market garden businesses. It is believed that the Steenstra’s involvement in the local orchard businesses could have influenced their choice of this place-related surname. Alternatively, some members of the family may have had a stonemasonry connection, which could explain the name’s origin.
The Steenstra family represents a long line of Dutch heritage, dating back many generations. It also ties into the greater Dutch-American experience, with members of the Steenstra family having migrated to the United States in the twentieth century. Today, the Steenstra name is carried proudly by many Dutch and Dutch-American families around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSteenstra: Where does the name Steenstra come from?
The last name Steenstra is of Dutch origin and is most commonly found in the Netherlands. It is a patronymic surname derived from the given name "Steen", which is itself a diminutive form of the name Stephan. It is also present in other parts of Europe, such as Denmark, Norway, and Germany, as well as parts of the United States with Dutch ancestry.
In the United States, people with the Steenstra surname are mainly found in states with historically large Dutch American populations, such as Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The Social Security Death Index recorded the last name Steenstra in California, New York, and Virginia as well.
At present, Steenstra can still be found in the Netherlands in large numbers. Over 1,400 and counting are included in the Dutch Telephone Directory, and a search for Steenstra on the Dutch People Registry would show more than 4,000 matches.
The country with the highest number of Steenstras is still the United States. The 2020 census showed that 17,740 Americans are carrying the Steenstra last name, most of whom are residing in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa.
Variations of the surname Steenstra
The surname Steenstra is one of the oldest Dutch surnames and has many spelling variations, as well as different variants of the same surname. It originated from the Dutch words ‘steen’ and ‘straat’, which means stone and street respectively.
The original spelling of Steenstra was Stenstra, however this has been anglicized over time and is now more commonly spelled as Steenstra. Other spelling variations of this surname include Steenstraat, Stenstraat, Stenstraten, Steenstraten, Stinstra, Steinstra, Steinstra and Steenstra.
Surnames that also have the same origin as Steenstra include Stenstra, Steinstra, Steinstrater, Steinstrasso, Stenstrasser, and Stenstrann.
In other parts of the world, the Dutch surname Steenstra has been transformed into the Germanic surnames Steinstrasse or Steinstra. These two surnames have been found in Germany, Austria, Poland, and Romania.
The modernized spelling for the surname Steenstra is often seen as Steenstraar or Steenstraar-Dumon, which closely resemble the original Dutch spelling Stenstraar.
In some cases, variants of the surname Steenstra have been combined with other Dutch surnames. This is often seen in the surname Van Steenstra, which is a combination of the Dutch names ‘van’ and Steenstra.
Today, the surname Steenstra is most common in the Netherlands and its surrounding countries.
Famous people with the name Steenstra
- Andy Steenstra: Professional ice hockey player for the Stroeer Sharks in the German DEL2.
- Ebbe Steenstra: Retired Dutch professional football player, having competed in the Eredivisie and European competitions; scored 32 goals in his career.
- Merel van Dongen: Fitness model and former Miss Holland; works as an influencer.
- Dries Steenstra: Dutch professional football player; plays for SC Cambuur in the Eerste Divisie.
- Derk Steenstra: Former Dutch cyclist; competed in the 1974 world championship.
- Lard Steenstra: Professional ice hockey player for the Tilburg Trappers in the Dutch Second Division.
- Marten Steenstra: Dutch music composer specializing in drum and bass beats.
- Marleen Steenstra: Dutch politician, research policy coordinator for the University of Amsterdam and lecturer on European and International Studies.
- Usse Steenstra: Dutch musician and bassist; member of several punk and metal bands.
- Reinier van Steenstra: Dutch author; particularly known for his books about the Netherlands.