Dykstra is a Frisian

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

describes a person who lived by a dyke. The suffix "-stra" is derived from old Germanic -sater, meaning sitter or dweller. The name originates in the northern

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

province of

Friesland Friesland ( ; ; official ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia (), named after the Frisians, is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen (p ...

. The name was originally spelled "Dijkstra". The name was "Americanized" to Dykstra after Frisian settlers arrived and settled in the United States. Many immigrants bearing the Dykstra surname arrived in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

between 1840 and 1900, well before the United States experienced "waves of immigration." Most Dykstras were farmers and all belonged to the Dutch Reformed, and later the Christian Reformed Church. Large waves of emigrants also migrated to Brazil, namely to the town of Carambei. The Dykstra/Dijkstra family was integral to the settlement of the area and for the introduction of modern farming practices. Many Dykstras settled in

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, and

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

. Many eventually grew away from farming and settled in cities like

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

Holland, Michigan Holland is a city in Ottawa County, Michigan, Ottawa and Allegan County, Michigan, Allegan counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located in the West Michigan, western region of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, Lower Peninsula, the city is si ...

, and

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, Illinois. They became a very successful bunch in businesses such as medicine, dentistry, waste management, banking, and architecture.

People with the surname

* Allan Dykstra (born 1987), American baseball player *

B. D. Dykstra Broer Doekele Dykstra (November 21, 1871 - March 29, 1955), usually cited as B. D. Dykstra, was a Dutch American pastor, educator, and poet who wrote several books, served as editor of the ''Volksvriend'' Dutch-language newspaper, and was a visible ...

(1871–1955), American pastor, educator, and poet *

Chloe Dykstra Chloe Frances Dykstra (born September 15, 1988) is an American cosplayer, model and actress. She produced and co-hosted the web series ''Just Cos'' for the Nerdist Industries' YouTube channel and is a cast member of the SYFY show '' Heroes of Cos ...

(born 1988), American model, actress and cosplayer * Clarence Addison Dykstra (1883–1950), American administrator *

John Dykstra John Charles Dykstra, A.S.C. (; born June 3, 1947) is an American special effects artist, pioneer in the development of the use of computers in filmmaking and recipient of three Academy Awards, among many other awards and prizes. He was one of ...

(born 1947), American motion picture special effects artist * John Dykstra (politician) (1875–1959), American state politician from Michigan * Jordan Dykstra (born 1985), American composer *

Kenny Dykstra Kenneth George Doane (born March 16, 1986) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE as a producer and as a trainer at the WWE Performance Center. During his past time in WWE, he was known as Kenny Dykstra, and Kenny as ...

, stage name of Ken Doane (born 1986), American wrestler *

Lenny Dykstra Leonard Kyle Dykstra ( ; born February 10, 1963), nicknamed Nails and Dude, is an American former professional baseball center fielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets (1985–1989) and Philadelphia Phillies (1989� ...

(born 1963), American baseball player *

Rick Dykstra Richard Dykstra (born April 10, 1966) is a Canadian politician. He served as president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario from 2016 to 2018. He also served as the member of Parliament (MP) for the Ontario riding of St. Catharine ...

(born 1966), Canadian politician *

Russell Dykstra Russell Dykstra (born 31 December 1966) is an Australian actor of screen, stage and TV. Early life Dykstra grew up in the Brisbane suburb of Calamvale. Dykstra first appeared on stage at age 10 in a theatre production of ''Toad of Toad Hall' ...

(born 1966), Australian actor *

Steve Dykstra Steven Dykstra (born December 1, 1962) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Hartford Whalers. In his NHL career, Dykst ...

(born 1962), Canadian ice hockey player

References

{{surname Dutch-language surnames Surnames of Frisian origin nl:Dijkstra fi:Dijkstra

People with the surname

See also

References