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

Zandstra, 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 Zandstra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zandstra in America

Zandstra is the 40371st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zandstra surname appeared 542 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 Zandstra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zandstra 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 Zandstra

The surname Zandstra originates from the Netherlands, specifically from the Friesland region, which is known for its distinct language and cultural heritage. It dates back to at least the 15th century, a time when Dutch surnames were generally patronymic or toponymic. Zandstra is an example of a toponymic surname, indicating a connection to a specific place or geographic feature.

The name Zandstra is derived from the combination of two Dutch words: zand, meaning sand, and stra, which is a variation of straat, meaning street or road. As such, the surname likely referred to someone who lived near a sandy road or area, which would have been a notable landscape feature worth mentioning.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Zandstra appears in Friesland's municipal archives in the late 16th century. Historical records from this period often show the name spelled slightly differently, such as Sandstra or Santstra, reflecting regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling.

A notable historical figure with the surname is Pieter Zandstra, born in 1827 in Friesland, who was an influential politician in the 19th century Dutch parliament. His contributions to regional political reforms were significant enough to be recorded in historical documents of that era.

Another prominent individual is Jan Zandstra, a 17th-century Dutch merchant whose business dealings spanned across Europe. Born in 1640, he was instrumental in establishing trade routes that were critical during the Dutch Golden Age. His success in commerce made the Zandstra name well-known among trading circles.

In the realm of art, Johannes Zandstra, born in 1889, was an acclaimed Dutch painter whose work was part of the early 20th-century European art movement. His works are still celebrated and displayed in Dutch art museums, making him one of the prominent bearers of the surname.

Geeske Zandstra, born in 1960, was a well-known Dutch speed skater who competed internationally in the late 20th century. Her achievements in the world of sports brought modern-day recognition to the Zandstra name.

Bauke Zandstra, a Frisian historian born in 1935, made considerable contributions to the documentation and preservation of Friesland's local history and culture. His research work and publications continue to serve as valuable resources for understanding the historical context of the region.

The surname Zandstra holds a rich history deeply tied to the geography and culture of the Friesland region in the Netherlands. It has been borne by a variety of notable individuals throughout history, each contributing to their respective fields and perpetuating the legacy of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zandstra

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

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

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

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