Dutch Surnames of Groningen: Origins and Meanings

If your family name ends in -ma, -sma, or -ema, there is a good chance your roots trace to Groningen. This northern Dutch province has given the world some of its most distinctive Dutch surnames. Groningen names reflect its flat, open landscape, its Frisian past, and its centuries as a Hanseatic trading centre. This guide explores the origins and meanings of the most common Dutch surnames from Groningen — and where these families ended up across the world.

Why Groningen Surnames Are Distinctive

Groningen sits at the northeastern corner of the Netherlands. It borders Germany to the east and the Wadden Sea to the north. For centuries, Groningen city was a major grain-trading hub and a member of the Hanseatic League.

These facts shaped its surnames. You will find names built on words for land, water, farming, and trade. You will also find names with Frisian roots and Old Saxon suffixes that do not appear further south. Groningen surnames are a window into the province’s layered history.

Frisian Roots in Groningen Family Names

Groningen was once part of the Frisian territories. That history survives in its surnames. The -ma and -ema suffixes are Frisian in origin. They usually come from an ancestor’s first name. If your surname ends in -ma, your family almost certainly has roots in the far north of the Netherlands.

Dijkema

Dijkema means “person who lives by the dyke”. It comes from the Dutch word dijk plus the Frisian -ema suffix.
Dijkema families lived near the sea dykes of coastal Groningen. Many moved to South Africa, where the name still survives today.

Wiersma

Wiersma comes from the Frisian personal name Wier or Wiere. It is a patronymic form meaning “son of Wier”.
This name is strongly linked to Groningen and Friesland. Dutch-Americans with this name often trace roots to the northern clay lands.

Dijkstra

Dijkstra means “person from the dyke”. It comes from dijk and the Frisian -stra suffix.
It is one of the most common surnames in the northern Netherlands. Dijkstra families spread from Groningen to South Africa and North America.

Lanting

Lanting comes from lant, an old word for “land” or “territory”. It was a name for landowners and farmers.
It is found mainly in Groningen and Drenthe. Some Lanting families emigrated to America in the 19th century.

Wolthuis

Wolthuis means “house in the woods”. It comes from wold (forest) and huis (house).
This name points to families who lived near one of Groningen’s small woodlands. It is a place-based name, typical of the northern provinces.

Old Saxon Roots in Eastern Groningen

Eastern Groningen was part of the Old Saxon cultural zone. Its naming traditions differ from the Frisian west. You will find the -ink and -ing suffixes near the German border. These names reflect the Saxon heritage of the Oldambt and Westerwolde regions.

Egberink

Egberink comes from the Germanic personal name Egbert. The -ink suffix marks someone as a descendant of a family group.
This name is found in eastern Groningen and just across the border in Germany. It reflects the Saxon roots of the Oldambt region.

Smit

Smit means “smith” or “blacksmith”. It is the northern Dutch form of smid.
Every village needed a smith. Smit is one of the most common surnames in Groningen and across the northern Netherlands.

Farming and the Land in Groningen Surnames

Groningen’s fertile clay polders made it one of the richest farming provinces in the Netherlands. Grain grew here for export across northern Europe. The landscape shaped the surnames people carried.

De Boer

De Boer means “the farmer”. It is one of the most common Dutch surnames of all.
In Groningen, De Boer families farmed the fertile clay polders. The name spread to South Africa, where boer became the Afrikaans word for farmer.

Mulder

Mulder means “miller”. It comes from the Dutch word molen (mill) through the northern variant mulder.
Millers were vital to Groningen’s grain economy. Mulder families are found across the Netherlands and in the Dutch diaspora worldwide.

Huisman

Huisman means “house man” or “owner of a farmstead”. It referred to a farmer who owned rather than rented his land.
This name reflects Groningen’s strong tradition of independent farming families. Huisman is common across the northern provinces.

Hoogeveen

Hoogeveen means “high peat bog”. It is a place-based name from the Groningen-Drenthe border area.
Families with this name came from peat-cutting communities. The town of Hoogeveen in Drenthe gave its name to many families in the region.

🇳🇱 Enjoying this? Netherlands lovers get stories like this every week. Subscribe free →

Maritime and Trade Names from Groningen

Groningen city was a Hanseatic League member from the 14th century. Trade by water was central to the province’s economy. The flat landscape was crossed by a network of canals. Maritime names are common in Groningen.

Visser

Visser means “fisherman”. It comes from the Dutch word vis (fish).
Fishing was important along the Groningen coast and the Ems estuary. Visser is a very common name across the Netherlands, but especially in the north.

Schuitema

Schuitema means “boat man” or “bargeman”. It comes from schuit (flat-bottomed boat) and the Frisian -ema suffix.
This name is distinctive to Groningen. Barges were the main way to move grain across the province’s canal network.

Van Dijk

Van Dijk means “from the dyke”. It is a topographic name for a family who lived near a dyke.
Van Dijk is one of the most recognised Dutch surnames worldwide. It appears in South Africa as Van Dyk. Groningen’s extensive dyke system produced many Van Dijk families.

Koster

Koster means “church sacristan” or “verger”. It refers to someone who maintained a church.
Churches were the centre of village life in Groningen. Koster families played an important role in parish records and community life.

Descriptive and Occupational Surnames

When Napoleon occupied the Netherlands in 1806, all Dutch people were required to register fixed family names. Some families in Groningen chose descriptive names at this time, based on appearance or trade.

Zwart

Zwart means “black”. It was a descriptive name for dark hair, dark clothing, or a dark complexion.
Many Zwart families registered this name during the Napoleonic era. It is found across the Netherlands and in South Africa.

Timmerman

Timmerman means “carpenter”. It comes from the Dutch word timmeren, to build with wood.
Carpenters built the farmhouses, barns, and sluice gates of Groningen. Timmerman families are found across the Netherlands and in South Africa.

Meijer

Meijer means “farm administrator” or “bailiff”. It comes from a Middle Dutch word for a person who managed land on behalf of a landowner.
Meijer was an important role in Groningen’s agricultural economy. Families with this name appear in Dutch-South African and Dutch-American records.

Where Did Groningen Families Go?

Groningen’s families scattered across the world in several major waves of emigration.

To South Africa: Many Groningen families emigrated in the 17th and 18th centuries via the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Names like De Boer, Van Dijk, Smit, and Visser are common among Afrikaner families today. The Afrikaans language evolved partly from the Dutch dialects spoken in Groningen and the other northern provinces.

To America: The 19th century saw large emigration to Michigan, Iowa, and Illinois. Groningen families settled in communities like Holland, Michigan. Names like Mulder, Visser, and Dijkstra appear frequently in Dutch-American genealogy records.

To Indonesia: The VOC recruited workers and soldiers from across the Netherlands, including Groningen. Some families stayed in Indonesia for generations. Dutch-Indonesian families with northern Dutch surnames trace their roots to these early settlers.

If your family name appears in this article, you can learn more about tracing Dutch ancestry through civil records and church registers.

How to Trace Your Groningen Roots

Groningen has excellent genealogical records. The Groninger Archieven holds civil records from 1811 and church records going back much further. Many of these records are freely available online through WieWasWie.nl.

If you are planning a research trip, our guide on planning a Dutch heritage trip will help you prepare. A 5-day Dutch heritage itinerary can take you from Amsterdam to Groningen and back, with time to visit ancestral towns along the way.

Groningen is also within easy reach of the Wadden Islands, where some of the oldest Frisian family names survive unchanged.

Visiting Groningen for Heritage Research

Groningen city is a beautiful base for heritage research. The Groninger Archieven is in the city centre. The Groninger Museum houses local history exhibits that bring the province’s past to life.

Fort Bourtange, in eastern Groningen, is one of the best-preserved star fortresses in Europe. It dates to the 16th century and played a key role in Groningen’s wars of independence. A visit gives you a vivid sense of the landscape your ancestors lived in.

The province of Drenthe borders Groningen to the south. Many families’ histories cross between the two provinces, and the Drenthe archives complement Groningen records well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Dutch surnames from Groningen?

The most common surnames from Groningen include De Boer, Mulder, Visser, Van Dijk, Smit, and Dijkstra. Many Groningen surnames also carry the Frisian -ma or -ema suffix, such as Dijkema and Wiersma.

What does the -ma or -ema suffix mean in Dutch surnames?

The -ma and -ema suffixes are Frisian in origin. They indicate descent from an ancestor. A name like Dijkema means “one of the Dijk family” or “descended from someone at the dyke”. These suffixes are most common in Groningen and Friesland.

Did Groningen surnames reach South Africa?

Yes. Many Groningen families emigrated to the Dutch Cape Colony in the 17th and 18th centuries. Surnames like De Boer, Van Dyk, Smit, and Visser are common in South Africa today, particularly among Afrikaner families.

Where can I research my Groningen family name?

Start with WieWasWie.nl, which gives free access to Dutch civil and church records. The Groninger Archieven holds local records and can help with detailed research. FamilySearch also has a large Netherlands collection that includes Groningen parishes.

Why were Dutch people required to register surnames in the 19th century?

Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the Netherlands from 1806 to 1813. His administration required all Dutch people to register fixed family names. Before this, many northern Dutch families used patronymics — a new name each generation based on the father’s first name.

You Might Also Enjoy

• Dutch Surnames of Friesland: Origins and Meanings
• Dutch Surnames of Zeeland: Origins and Meanings
• How to Trace Your Dutch Ancestry: A Step-by-Step Guide

Plan Your Netherlands Trip

Ready to visit Groningen and discover your roots? Start with our Start Here page for practical tips on planning your trip to the Netherlands.