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Wiersma Family History

Wiersma Surname Meaning

West Frisian and Dutch: patronymic formed with the suffix -ma ‘(one of the) men of’ from a genitivized form of Wier topographic name from Middle Dutch wier(de) ‘artificial dwelling mound’ (see Wier).

It incorporates elements that reflect both the cultural and linguistic influences in the region.

The term highlights the significance of geographical features in the naming conventions.

This construction follows a pattern common in both West Frisian and Dutch naming traditions.

Overall, it illustrates the blending of language and landscape in personal names.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Wiersma family from?

You can see how Wiersma families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wiersma family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Wiersma families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there was 1 Wiersma family living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Wiersma's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Wiersma families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wiersma surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Wiersma ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Wiersma. 20% of Wiersma men worked as a Farmer and 20% of Wiersma women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wiersma were Salesman and House Work.

View Census Data for Wiersma | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    20%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Farm Laborer
    10%
  • Salesman
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    20%
  • Housework
    17%
  • Stenographer
    13%
  • House Work
    10%

What Wiersma family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Wiersma. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wiersma census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wiersma

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Wiersma. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Wiersma immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 527 military records available for the last name Wiersma. For the veterans among your Wiersma ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wiersma military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wiersma family history

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What is the average Wiersma lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Wiersma life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Wiersma in 1946 was 27, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wiersma

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wiersma ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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