Zijlstra is a West Frisian toponymic or occupational surname meaning "from/of the Zijl", a Middle Dutch 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.[1] People with this name include:

Zeilstra

  • Bart Zeilstra (born 1982), Dutch rapper and singer known as "Baas B"

Zylstra

References

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  1. ^ Zijlstra (y) at the Database of Surnames in The Netherlands.