Vegter-Tschetter Heritage


Father's Parents
Klaas Pieters Statema & Pietje Tjerks Bijlsma

Mother's Parents
Cornelis Sipkes Bosma & Sjoukje Teyes Tolsma

Father & Mother:
Father: Tjerk Klases Statema (1842-1913)
Mother: Fokje Cornelis Bosma Statema (1840-1878)

Children:
#1: Klaas (1863-1925)
#2: Pietje Statema (1865-1865)
#3: Pietje Statema Adema (1866-1944)
#4: Cornelis Statema (1870-1944)
#5: Pieter (1876-1930)
#6: Sjouke (1876-1878)

Tjerk Statema Family


Dean-Vegter Heritage homepage







Statema Family Tree
Researched and compiled by John Nauta



Document Taking Surname Statema, 1811
Further Explanation

Tjerk Statema
(Father of Peter Statema, Father of Fannie Statema Vegter)


Document Taking Surname Statema, 1811
Signed by Pieter Klazes (1778-1855)
Grandfather of Tjerk Klases Statema

A copy of the official document of the taking of the surname "Statema" by Pieter Klazes (1778-1855) for his family. This Pieter is the direct ancestor of Susan, Kathy and myself (our 4th-great-grandfather). This was done in 1811. An explanation: Most people in the Netherlands before 1811 did not have a surname. Your first name and your father's first name (called patronymic) was the way people were named. For example, my first name is John, my father was Pieter, so I would be called John Pieters, meaning John, son of Pieter. In 1795 Napoleon conquered the Netherlands. He wanted to tax Dutch people to fund his wars but found very difficult to track anyone because all records were kept in churches. There was no "county clerk" system and their were no surnames. There were thousands of "Pieter Klazes". So, Napoleon set up a municipal system to register each adult male and their families. They were still allowed to register birth, deaths and marriages in the local church but were mandated to register them at the county seat. So, men had to take a surname. Pieter Klazes took the surname of "Statema" in December of 1811. (Photo, document, explanation, and research all provided by John Nauta, our 3rd cousin. Thanks.)