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

Wiersma, 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 Wiersma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wiersma in America

Wiersma is the 14279th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wiersma surname appeared 2,097 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Wiersma.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wiersma 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 Wiersma

The surname Wiersma originated in Friesland, a province in the northern Netherlands. It is a locational surname, derived from the Frisian words "wier" meaning "willows" and "ma" meaning "meadow." The name likely referred to an area covered with willow trees or a willow meadow.

Friesland has a long history, with traces of human habitation dating back to the Stone Age. The Frisians were among the earliest inhabitants of the region and have their own distinct language and cultural traditions. The name Wiersma is thought to have emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wiersma can be found in the Frisian land records of the 14th century. These records were maintained by local authorities and often included details about property ownership and transactions.

The name Wiersma has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 16th century, a man named Sierd Wiersma was a prominent merchant and trader in the city of Leeuwarden, Friesland. He was known for his extensive business dealings and involvement in local politics.

Another notable figure was Antje Wiersma, born in 1685 in the village of Wommels, Friesland. She gained recognition for her skills as a midwife and her dedication to assisting women during childbirth in the region.

In the 19th century, Pieter Wiersma (1819-1893) was a respected teacher and author from Friesland. He wrote several books on Frisian language and culture, contributing to the preservation of the region's heritage.

Jelle Wiersma (1847-1921) was a Frisian farmer and politician who served as a member of the Provincial Council of Friesland, representing the interests of the agricultural community.

More recently, Gerben Wiersma (1917-2004) was a renowned Frisian poet and writer. His works explored themes of rural life, nature, and the unique identity of Friesland. He received several literary awards and is considered one of the most influential Frisian authors of the 20th century.

While the Wiersma name is most commonly associated with Friesland, it has also spread to other parts of the Netherlands and beyond due to migration and family connections. However, its origins can be traced back to the willow meadows of this historic region in the northern Netherlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wiersma

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

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

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

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