Dijkstra and Dykstra are Dutch surnames. "Dykes" is a variation of the English place name, and describes a man 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 province of Friesland (frees-LAN). 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 between 1840 and 1900, well before the United States experienced "waves of immigration." Most Dykstra's were farmers and all belonged to the Dutch Reformed, and later the Christian Reformed Church.
Many Dykstras settled in Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, California, New York, and New Jersey. Many eventually grew away from farming and settled in cities like Grand Rapids, Michigan, Holland, Michigan, and Chicago, Illinois. They became a very successful bunch in businesses such as medicine, dentistry, waste management, banking, and architecture.
See also
- B.D. Dykstra, early 20th century church leader
- Edsger Dijkstra, Dutch computer scientist
- John Dykstra, motion picture special effects pioneer
- Kenny Dykstra, stage name of Ken Doane, WWE wrestler
- Lenny Dykstra, former Major League Baseball player
- Rick Dykstra, Canadian Member of Parliament
also a residence hall at UCLA
- Dijkstra, for a list of people with that surname
References
ucla.edu
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