Surname Roelfszema - Meaning and Origin
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Roelfszema: What does the surname Roelfszema mean?
The last name Roelfszema is of Dutch origin, derived from the Old Dutch name "Roelof." It is believed to be a patronymic surname, which means it was originally derived from the first name of the father of the original bearer.
Roelof was derived from the Germanic elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "wolf," which means "wolf." Combined, these elements give the name Roelfszema the literal meaning of "famous wolf." It is possible that the original bearer of this surname had a prominent ancestor or ancestor with a fierce reputation.
It is believed that the first bearer of this surname was likely a wealthy landowner, as this was a fairly common practice in the Netherlands during the medieval period. Roelfszema is typically found in northern and western parts of the Netherlands, especially in the provinces of Noord Brabant and Zeeland, although it is also found in other areas.
Today, Roelfszema is still a common last name in the Netherlands, with around 10,000 bearers of the surname currently living in the country. Although it has spread throughout the world, it is still concentrated in the Netherlands.
Order DNA origin analysisRoelfszema: Where does the name Roelfszema come from?
The last name Roelfszema is mainly found in the Netherlands, especially in the provinces of Friesland and Groningen. This is because the surname originated there in the 18th century. Records of the surname also indicate that some of its earliest bearers migrated to other parts of Europe as well, such as Germany and Belgium.
Today, the last name Roelfszema is found primarily in the Netherlands and Belgium as well as regions of the Netherlands colonized by immigrants from these countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa. In these countries, it is not as common as in its places of origin.
The meaning of the last name Roelfszema is derived from the combination of two old Dutch words: "roel" meaning wheel and "fzema" meaning plane or flat. Original bearers of the surname likely lived near or worked with wheels, thus leading to the adoption of the name.
Notably, Roelfszema is quite an unusual surname even in its places of origin, as it is quite rare. This, combined with the fact that many Roelfszema families have either emigrated to other countries or adopted other surnames over the years, contributes to its lower frequency today.
Variations of the surname Roelfszema
Roelfszema (also spelled Roelfsma, Roelsema, Roelofsma, Roelofzema, Rulporsma, and Roolsma) is a Dutch surname originating from the province of Friesland. The Roelfszema name is derived from people being known by their father's name. The surname likely translates to "son of Roelof," with "Roelof" being a Dutch for name Ralph, Roland, Rollin or Rudolph.
The Royalszema name is a variation of the German version of the surname--Rudolph--that made its way to the Netherlands sometime in the 16th century. The German version of the surname is Röhlwkopf.
The English version of the surname is most likely Rollin or Rolin and there are several variations of the surname Rollin across Europe. Some of these are Roulleaux in France, Rolli in Italy and Portugal, Rollin in the United Kingdom, and Rollings across the United States.
Another variant of the name, Roelsema, is derived from the combination of the Dutch prefix "roe," meaning roe deer, and the suffix "-sema," meaning farm. Thus, this variant means someone who lives on a farm that has roe deer.
No matter which variation of Roelfszema is used, this surname is derived from names that are thought to have come from Germanic origins, referring to a shield made of wolf skin or a wolf-like protector. This surname has many derivations and is an important part of Dutch and German history, most commonly associated with the Netherlands and Germany.
Famous people with the name Roelfszema
- Pieter Roelfszema: a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for AGOVV Apeldoorn in the Dutch third tier.
- Raihcius Roelfszema: a Dutch-Surinamese former footballer who represented the Netherlands in multiple international competitions.
- Jonty Roelfszema: an Australian former professional rugby league player for South Sydney Rabbitohs.
- Odin Roelfszema: a Dutch musician and songwriter known for his electronic-oriented dance music.
- Jean-Marc Roelfszema: a Dutch former track and field athlete who specialised in the hammer throw and discus throw events.
- Rembertus Roelfszema: a Dutch international speed skater, who won multiple gold medals at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships and European Allround Championships.
- Don Roelfszema: a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
- Christian Roelfszema: a Dutch former speed skater who was the first Dutch skater to win the world all-round championships.
- Liesbeth Roelfszema: a Dutch former rower, who won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
- Ingrid Roelfszema: a Dutch former professional tennis player who represented Netherlands at the Fed Cup and won multiple titles on the ITF Circuit.