Jelsma last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Jelsma

A Dutch surname literally translating to "sea mare".

Jelsma, 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 Jelsma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jelsma in America

Jelsma is the 69793rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jelsma surname appeared 281 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 Jelsma.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jelsma 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 69793 65298 6.65%
Count 281 284 -1.06%
Proportion per 100k 0.10 0.11 -9.52%

The history of the last name Jelsma

The surname Jelsma is of Dutch origin, with roots tracing back to the Netherlands in the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word "jelsum," which refers to a small village or hamlet. This suggests that the name likely originated from a specific location or region within the Netherlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Jelsma surname can be found in the Dutch census records of 1622, where a family with the name Jelsma was listed as residing in the province of Friesland. This province is known for its rich history and cultural traditions, which may have contributed to the preservation of the name over time.

In terms of historical references, the name Jelsma does not appear to be mentioned in any significant historical documents or manuscripts, such as the Domesday Book. However, it is possible that variations or similar spellings of the name may have been used in local records or documents from the regions where the surname was prominent.

Notable individuals bearing the Jelsma surname include:

  1. Jan Jelsma (1592-1649), a Dutch merchant and trader who established a successful trading company in Amsterdam during the 17th century.
  2. Pieter Jelsma (1718-1792), a renowned Dutch painter known for his landscapes and portraits during the Golden Age of Dutch art.
  3. Antje Jelsma (1825-1901), a Dutch author and poet who wrote extensively about rural life and traditions in the Netherlands.
  4. Hendrik Jelsma (1868-1942), a Dutch engineer and inventor who patented several innovative mechanical designs in the late 19th century.
  5. Gerrit Jelsma (1901-1978), a Dutch politician who served as a member of the Dutch parliament from 1945 to 1963, representing the Labour Party.

It is worth noting that the Jelsma surname has likely evolved over time, with variations in spelling and pronunciation arising due to migration, regional dialects, and personal preferences. Some alternative spellings or derivatives of the name may include Jelsema, Jelsmaa, or Jelsmann, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jelsma

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

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 Jelsma was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 88.97% 250
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 1.78% 5
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.20% 9
Hispanic Origin 5.34% 15

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 Jelsma has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 88.97% 92.25% -3.62%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 1.78% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 3.20% 4.23% -27.73%
Hispanic 5.34% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Jelsma last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/jelsma-surname-popularity/.

"Jelsma last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/jelsma-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Jelsma last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/jelsma-surname-popularity/.

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