Dykstra

For the residence hall at UCLA, see UCLA student housing.

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 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, 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
• Dijkstra, for a list of people with that surname

References

• Meertens.knaw.nl: Specifieke componenten, -stra (in Dutch)

This page or section lists people with the surname Dykstra, Deijkstra, Deykstra, Deikstra, etc.. If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.