The name Rijpstra can be
found in Friesland of course, a provinz of The Netherlands, Canada, less in
Australia, South Africa, the USA, Argentina and Chili. In the USA the name is
written as Rypstra, Ripstra, Ripstray of Ripstraw, but in Argentina still written
as Rijpstra. In Franeker, one of the 11 Friesian cities, as Riepstra.
Rijp = dike or lump (in
Dutch: terp)
Ripa = coast or land
Rip = stream away from bank
Riparian = outside the dike
Rijp/Ryp/Ripe = piece of land besides water (in Friesian language: stripe lân
of wetterkante)
Rijpstra = the man from the land outside the dike.
Overview Rijpstra's
in The Netherlands. (January 2006)
