Find out how popular the last name Duimstra is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Duimstra.

Duimstra, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Duimstra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Duimstra in America

Duimstra is the 84136th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Duimstra surname appeared 223 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Duimstra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Duimstra to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Duimstra

The surname DUIMSTRA has its origins in the Netherlands, and it can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch words "duim" meaning thumb and "stra" meaning a twisted or curly thing, possibly referring to a physical characteristic or occupation.

In the early 17th century, the DUIMSTRA name appeared in several historical records from the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. One notable mention was in the Fryske Geastlike Guede, a manuscript dating back to 1640, where a certain Tjaert Duimstra was listed as a landowner in the village of Wijckel.

The earliest recorded instance of the DUIMSTRA name dates back to 1583, when a Dirck Duimstra was listed in the baptismal records of the Reformed Church in Leeuwarden, the capital city of Friesland. This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by the late 16th century.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the DUIMSTRA name continued to appear in various records from Friesland, with several individuals notable for their contributions to society. Sjoerd Duimstra (1638-1704) was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from the city of Franeker, known for his innovative designs and precision timepieces.

Another notable figure was Sjoerd Duimstra (1722-1798), a prominent merchant and philanthropist from Leeuwarden. He established several charitable foundations and donated generously to educational institutions in the region.

In the 19th century, the DUIMSTRA name spread beyond Friesland as families migrated to other parts of the Netherlands and abroad. Pieter Duimstra (1810-1876), a successful businessman from Leeuwarden, established a trading company in Amsterdam and later expanded his operations to the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia).

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest documented instances of the DUIMSTRA name in North America was Gerrit Duimstra (1832-1912), a Dutch immigrant who settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the late 1800s. He became a prominent figure in the local Dutch community and played a significant role in establishing several churches and organizations.

Another notable individual was Jan Duimstra (1867-1941), a Dutch-American farmer and community leader in Iowa. He was actively involved in various agricultural organizations and played a crucial role in promoting sustainable farming practices in the region.

While the DUIMSTRA name may not be as widely recognized as some other Dutch surnames, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the Netherlands, particularly in the province of Friesland. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made significant contributions in various fields, from clockmaking and commerce to agriculture and philanthropy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Duimstra

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Duimstra.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Duimstra was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Duimstra has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Duimstra was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Duimstra, please contact us.

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