Zijlstra is a West Frisian

toponymic Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...

occupational surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

meaning "from/of the ''Zijl''", a

Middle Dutch Middle Dutch is a collective name for a number of closely related West Germanic dialects whose ancestor was Old Dutch. It was spoken and written between 1150 and 1500. Until the advent of Modern Dutch after 1500 or c. 1550, there was no overarc ...

name for a type of sluice (Modern Dutch '' Spuisluis'', German '' Siel''). The suffix "-stra" is derived from old Germanic -sater, meaning sitter or dweller. The name could thus be referring to a lock keeper. Variant forms are ''Zeijlstra'', ''Zeilstra'', ''Zylstra'', and ''Sylstra''. The latter is the common spelling abroad.Zijlstra (y)
at the Database of Surnames in The Netherlands. People with this name include: * Anca Zijlstra (born 1973), Dutch darts player * Auke Zijlstra (born 1964), Dutch politician (PVV) *

Carla Zijlstra Carla Johanna Zijlstra (born 15 March 1969) is a retired speed skater from the Netherlands who was active between 1989 and 1999. She competed at the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics in the 1500, 3000 and 5000 m. Her best achievements were fourt ...

(born 1969), Dutch speed skater *

Halbe Zijlstra Halbe Zijlstra (; born 21 January 1969) is a retired Dutch politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 26 October 2017 to 13 February 2018 in the Third Rutte cabinet. He is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ( ...

(born 1969), Dutch politician (VVD), Minister of Foreign Affairs 2017–18 * Hieke Zijlstra (born 1981), Dutch footballer *

Jelle Zijlstra Jelle Zijlstra (; 27 August 1918 – 23 December 2001) was a Dutch politician of the defunct Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) now the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and economist who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 22 N ...

(1918–2001), Dutch politician (ARP), economist and banker, Prime Minister 1966–67 * Kees Zijlstra (1931–2013), Dutch politician (PvdA) and civil servant *

Martin Zijlstra Marten "Martin" Zijlstra (22 July 1944 – 10 December 2014) was a Dutch politician. He started his political career as member of the States of Groningen, serving between 1974 and 1978. Starting in 1977 he served as Mayor of Termunten for thirt ...

(1944–2014), Dutch politician (PvdA) *

Rinse Zijlstra Rinse Zijlstra (19 April 1927 – 26 September 2017) was a Dutch politician. Zijlstra was born in Oosterbierum to parents Ane Jelle Zijlstra and Pietje Postuma. His older brother was Jelle Zijlstra. Rinse Zijlstra served in the House of Represent ...

(1927–2017), Dutch politician (ARP), brother of Jelle * Sipke Zijlstra (born 1985), Dutch racing cyclist * Wout Zijlstra (born 1964), Dutch strongman Zeilstra * Bart Zeilstra (born 1982), Dutch rapper and singer known as "Baas B" Zylstra * Bernard Zylstra (1934–1986), Canadian political scientist *

Brandon Zylstra Brandon Zylstra (born March 25, 1993) is a professional American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at Concordia–Moorhead. After going undrafted in 2016, Zylstra signed with the Edmo ...

(born 1993), American football player * Gerben Zylstra (born 1959), American biochemist * Shane Zylstra (born 1996), American football player

References

{{surname Occupational surnames Surnames of Frisian origin Dutch toponymic surnames de:Zijlstra pl:Zijlstra simple:Zijlstra