Annema

Annema is a West Frisian patronymic surname, meaning "son of Anne". The given name Anne (here referring to the masculine form) derives from a short form of names beginning with the Old German element arn meaning "eagle". Thus, the name ultimately carries connotations of strength and keen vision associated with the eagle. The -sma suffix is characteristic of Frisian and Dutch patronymic surnames, functioning similarly to -son in English. In the Frisian naming tradition, such surnames were formed by attaching -s, -ma, or -stra to the father's name. Annema fits this pattern, indicating lineage from an ancestor named Anne. The surname Annema is primarily found in the Netherlands, especially in the province of Friesland, where West Frisian is spoken. As a patronym, it would have originated in the late Middle Ages when hereditary surnames became fixed in the region.