Origin & History
A Frisian occupational or positional surname. In Frisian naming tradition, post could refer to a postal worker or courier, or alternatively to a person living near a post or marker — a boundary stone or milestone. The suffix -ma is Frisian, equivalent to -man or indicating family origin. One of the more distinctive Frisian surnames.
Geographic Distribution
Characteristic of Friesland and Groningen, with this surname being a reliable marker of Frisian heritage.
Notable Bearers
Siebe Postma (1812–1893), Frisian writer and language enthusiast who published poetry in the Frisian language during a period when Frisian was often suppressed in favour of Dutch.
Pronunciation
Genealogy Research
Postma is so strongly associated with Friesland that its presence in a family tree is a clear signal to search Frisian church registers. Tresoar in Leeuwarden is the primary repository, with many records now digitised and freely searchable.
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