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

Houtsma, 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 Houtsma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Houtsma in America

Houtsma is the 93921st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Houtsma surname appeared 195 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 Houtsma.

We can also compare 2010 data for Houtsma 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 Houtsma

The surname HOUTSMA has its origins in the Netherlands, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Dutch word "houtsmid," which translates to "woodcutter" or "woodsman." The name likely originated in the forested regions of the Netherlands, where woodcutting and timber trade were prominent occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HOUTSMA surname can be found in the Dutch archives from the city of Leiden in 1587, where a certain Adriaen Houtsma was listed as a resident. This suggests that the name was already established in the region during that time period.

In the 17th century, the HOUTSMA name appeared in various Dutch records, including church registers and municipal documents. Notable individuals from this era include Jan Houtsma, a merchant and ship owner from Amsterdam, born in 1632, and Pieter Houtsma, a renowned painter from Delft, who lived from 1615 to 1678.

As the Dutch expanded their global influence through trade and colonization, the HOUTSMA name spread to other parts of the world. In the 18th century, records show the presence of individuals with this surname in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) and Dutch colonies in the Caribbean.

During the 19th century, several prominent figures bore the HOUTSMA name. Martinus Theodorus Houtsma (1851-1943) was a respected Dutch orientalist and professor at the University of Utrecht, known for his seminal work on Islamic studies. Jacobus Houtsma (1812-1887) was a Dutch politician and jurist who served as a member of the States-General, the Dutch parliament.

Another notable figure was Pieter Nicolaas Houtsma (1818-1892), a Dutch naval officer and explorer who led expeditions to the Dutch East Indies and played a crucial role in mapping the Indonesian archipelago.

In the 20th century, the HOUTSMA name continued to be represented in various fields. Michiel Theodoor Houtsma (1892-1972) was a renowned Dutch architect known for his innovative designs and contributions to the Amsterdam School of architecture. Klaas Houtsma (1918-2001) was a distinguished Dutch painter and sculptor, renowned for his abstract and expressionist works.

While the HOUTSMA surname has its roots in the Netherlands, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the Dutch woodcutters and foresters who bore this name centuries ago, reflecting the rich history and cultural heritage of the Netherlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Houtsma

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

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 Houtsma 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 Houtsma 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 Houtsma was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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