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

Yntema, 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 Yntema surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yntema in America

Yntema is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yntema surname appeared 131 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 Yntema.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yntema 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 Yntema

The surname Yntema originates from the Netherlands, with its roots deeply entrenched in the Frisian region of northern Holland. The earliest records date back to around the medieval period, notably in the areas where the Frisian language and its dialects were predominantly spoken. The name Yntema appears to be a patronymic surname, which means it is derived from a given name, specifically "Ynse" or "Ynse," which were common Frisian given names at that time. The suffix -ma in Frisian patronymic surnames implies "son of" or "descendant of." This suffix is similar to -son in English or -sen in Scandinavian surnames. Therefore, the surname Yntema essentially means "son of Ynse."

The earliest notable records of the surname Yntema date back to the 16th century. One of the first documented individuals with this surname is Jelle Yntema, mentioned in legal documents from the 1560s in Grouw, a village in the modern Friesland province. His name appears in land ownership deeds, reflecting a period when written records started becoming more common due to increased bureaucratic processes.

Through the centuries, the Yntema family name continued to appear in various historical records. In the 18th century, one prominent figure was Sjoerd Yntema, born in 1723 in Leeuwarden. Sjoerd was a well-known farmer whose business dealings are recorded in municipal archives, showcasing the agricultural lifestyle typical of the region.

A notable personality in the 19th century was Thomas J. Yntema, an emigrant to the United States. Born in Harlingen, Friesland, in 1829, Thomas became a significant figure in his new homeland, contributing to the community through his work as a merchant and later as a public official. His life mirrors the broader narrative of Dutch emigration during the 19th century when many Dutch families moved to the New World seeking better opportunities.

In the 20th century, the surname Yntema gained scholarly recognition through Hessel Yntema, an esteemed legal scholar. Born in 1891, Hessel Yntema was a professor of law at the University of Michigan and a founder of the American Society of Comparative Law. His contributions to legal scholarship, particularly in the field of comparative law, remain influential to this day.

Another significant figure is Douwe Yntema, born in 1931 in the Netherlands. Douwe was a physicist whose research in particle physics earned international recognition. His contributions to the scientific community through various publications and collaborative projects have cemented the Yntema name in the academic world.

The surname Yntema has evolved over time, with variations in spelling reflecting the linguistic changes and regional dialects. Some historical documents mention alternative spellings such as Yntsema or Yntzema, though these variations are less common. Despite its regional origin, the surname has traveled across continents, reflecting the mobility and adaptability of families bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yntema

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

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

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

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