Surname Turkstra - Meaning and Origin
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Turkstra: What does the surname Turkstra mean?
Turkstra is a Dutch surname of patronymic origin, typically derived from the personal name of a male ancestor. In this case, it is believed to come from the name "Turk," which could possibly be a short form of the Germanic name "Theodoric". The suffix "-stra" is short for "-zoonstra", which translates to "-son's street". Hence, Turkstra loosely translates to "Turk's son's street" indicating the lineage and place of residence of the individual. However, it's also important to note that the original meaning might have evolved or slightly varied over time due to regional differences and linguistic changes. As with many last names, exact meanings can often be somewhat uncertain due to the passage of time and the evolution of language. The name is most commonly found in the Netherlands, reflecting the country's historical use of patronymic surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisTurkstra: Where does the name Turkstra come from?
The last name Turkstra can be found all over the world. In the United States, it is most common in the states of Michigan, Illinois, California, and Ohio. This last name is also quite common in Canada, Netherlands, and Australia. In the Netherlands, it is believed to have originated from a small provincial village, while Australia has the highest concentration of people with the name Turkstra outside of the Netherlands. In the United States, most of the people with the last name Turkstra are of Dutch descent.
In the United States, the Turkstra family is mainly concentrated in the Midwest. In Michigan, it is the 179th most common name. In Illinois, civil records show that the surnames of the Turkstra families date back to the early 1800s. The family is believed to have most likely emigrated from the Netherlands in the early 19th century. The surname is popular in the Chicago area and can be seen in some historical records from the late 1800s.
In Canada, the last name is found in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, where large numbers of immigrants originally from the Netherlands have settled. In Australia, the surname is believed to have originated from the Dutch who settled in the country in the 1850s. It is most commonly found in the state of Victoria, which was a popular destination for European immigrants.
The last name Turkstra is not especially common in other countries, but can be found scattered within the United States, Canada, Netherlands, and Australia. Those who do have the last name were likely descended from immigrants who travelled to these countries in the past.
Variations of the surname Turkstra
Turkstra is a surname with several variations, spellings, and alternate surnames. These include Tuerksma, Tuerksma, Tuerksmae, Tuerksmon, STuerksma, STuksma, STuksmae, Tuerckstra, Tuckstra, Tuercsma, Tuercsmae, Tuercsmon, Turchstra, and Turksma.
The origin of the surname Turkstra comes from the Dutch language, as it is thought to come from the word “Tuerksma,” which means “man of Turkish origin.” This points to an ancestor of the family having come from Turkey or a country in the region. The spelling variations of the surname may also have come from other European languages, such as German and Scandinavian, which could ultimately point to the historical migration of a Turk.
Turkstra is an old Dutch name with roots going back hundreds of years. It was first documented in the 1700s in the Netherlands, especially in the province of North Holland. It then spread to other parts of the country, as well as to other parts of the world, as immigrants from those parts of Europe moved elsewhere in search of a better life.
Today, the Turkstra surname is found mainly in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, and Germany; however, there are also some family members found in other countries, such as South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Overall, the Turkstra surname has a long and rich history that can be traced back to the Dutch language. It has many variations in spellings and surnames, all of which tell the story of the family’s origins, the migration of its ancestors, and their settling in different parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Turkstra
- Lawrence Turkstra: American politician and member of the House of Representatives from Michigan
- Rebecca Turkstra: Canadian Paralympic snowboarder
- Mitchell Turkstra: American football tackle
- Thomas Turkstra: Canadian politician, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
- James Turkstra: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Sara Turkstra: American figure skater
- April Turkstra: Canadian curler
- Russel Turkstra: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Laura Turkstra: Canadian Paralympic swiimmer
- Katie Turkstra: Canadian vlogger and YouTuber
- Chris Turkstra: Canadian football nose tackle
- Sander Turkstra: Dutch retired professional footballer
- Martina Turkstra: Dutch footballer
- Bart Turkstra: Dutch politician, member of the House of Representatives
- Kimberly Turkstra: Canadian politician, Minister of Long-Term Care