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

Zylstra, 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 Zylstra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zylstra in America

Zylstra is the 15806th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zylstra surname appeared 1,842 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 Zylstra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zylstra 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 Zylstra

The surname Zylstra originates from the Netherlands, specifically the Friesland region. Friesland, known for its distinct language and culture, has a rich history dating back to the early Middle Ages. Zylstra is a Frisian surname that is derived from the combination of the elements "Zijl" and "stra." The term "Zijl" translates to a canal or small waterway in Frisian, while "stra" is a common suffix in Frisian surnames meaning "from" or "belonging to." Together, Zylstra means "from the canal" or "dweller by the canal."

In the late medieval period, Frisian surnames often reflected the geographic features of the region. The Netherlands is renowned for its intricate network of canals and waterways, which played a vital role in transport and defense. The surname Zylstra, therefore, denotes a family that lived near such canals. Early records of the name can be found in various Frisian manuscripts and town archives, where it is spelled in several forms including Zijlstra, Sylstra, and Sijllstra, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zylstra appears in a 16th-century land register from Friesland. The register lists a certain Jan Zylstra, a farmer who owned a stretch of land adjoining a canal. Another historical figure with this surname is Pieter Zylstra (1605-1670), who served as a local magistrate in the town of Leeuwarden in Friesland. His contributions to local governance were documented in town records of the period.

Evert Zylstra, born in 1723 in the small village of Gytsjerk, pursued a career as a merchant and was noted in shipping manifests for trading agricultural products. Another notable Zylstra, Sjouke Zylstra (1789-1855), was a prominent educator and published several influential works on the Frisian language and culture, contributing to the preservation and study of the region's heritage.

Klaas Zylstra (1820-1887), an engineer and inventor, played a significant role during the Industrial Revolution in Friesland. He patented numerous improvements in agricultural machinery, which were essential for the modernization of farming practices in the region.

In conclusion, the surname Zylstra has deep roots in the Friesland region of the Netherlands, denoting a connection to the vital waterways of the area. From early farmers and merchants to educators and engineers, bearers of the Zylstra name have contributed to the cultural and economic development of Friesland throughout history. The evolving spellings and notable figures with this surname reflect its enduring legacy in Dutch heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zylstra

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

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

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

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