Roorda Family

his family is descended from ancient Friesian nobility and came originally from Tjummarum, Cubaard and Genum (all in Friesland) where they lived in the castles of Stinsen. On various occasions members of this family signed the League of Nobles and were well known because, especially during the Medieval Period, many very important positions were held by them in the Provincial and Regional government both in Holland and in foreign countries.

ther members of the Roorda family received high recognition because of their high moral character and they were brave and courageous champions of the Christian faith against pagan and heathen religions. Once Christian and Saracen armies were lined up in battle array. The Saracen army was led by a Moorish prince of extremely great stature and filled with arrogant pride. This Moorish prince challenged the brave nobleman and Christian Roorda of Genum to a duel. The courageous Christian nobleman, Roorda, accepted the challenge and was able to kill his opponent, the Moorish prince. With the decapitated head of the Prince’s stuck on the point of his sword, Roorda returned to the Christian army and was released for his act of bravery by being knighted and he was permitted to display on his coat of arm the head of a Moor.

he Roordas of Tjummarum and Cubaard also have their own coats of arms.

n the middle of the seventeenth century, a member of the Roordas of Genum married a van Eysinga, which family also belonged to the Friesian nobility. Descendents of this union called themselves Roorda-Van Eysinga.

he Roordas of Genum and the Roordas of Tjummarum and the Roordas of Cubaard carried the title of Duke or Lord. These titles were acquired in ancient times in recognition of large landholdings or possessions or important positions which families held in affairs of state.

n several tombstones in the Reformed Church of Genum, where several members of the Roorda family have been buried, mention is made of the title of Duke or Lord, an honorary title bestowed upon members of the Roorda family.

n Friesland there were three generations of Roordas:

  1. oorda of Tjummarum, named after their most important landholding. The ancient birthplace of the Roordas with the Crescent Moon was in Tjummarum. Their coat of arms displayed the Crescent Moon.
  2. oorda of the Bar, carried a coat of arms which displayed a bar from lower left to upper right on the Coat of Arms
  3. oorda of Genum, so named because Genum was the birthplace of the Roorda, also known as Roorda with the Moorish head, referring to the head of the Moor on the coat of arms.
hree members of the Roorda family undersigned the League of Nobles: Poppe (van) Roorda, Schelte (Van) Roorda, and Carl (Van) Roorda. These Roordas belonged to the Roordas of Tjummarum. Carl Van Roorda was a well known opponent of William Lodeway of Orange. The city of Roordahuizen, Friesland is named after him. He also was a Roorda of Tjummarum.

he former landholding and possession of the Roordas was located in Friesland near the towns of Costergoo and Gryterny-Ferwerderadeel in the county of Leeuwarden. Immediately west of the city of Genum one can still see today a farm house which was part of the Roorda estate. The house and land is owned by Jacob Botess Roorda since 1847. Jacob Botess Roorda himself lives in Genum. This same estate was owned by Syda Roorda in 1481.

uke Ruurt Roorda was the First Roorda of Genum in the year 1190 and was a son of John Roorda of Tjummarum and Cubaard. He was born in 1101 and died in 1152. Said John had a brother Goffe Roorda of Berlikum and Spannum (1096-1141). A descendant of Goffe was John Roorda born in 1373.

he first Roorda mentioned in the register of the Friesian Nobles, belonged to the generation of Roordas of Tjummarum.

n the family records of the Roordas of Genum we read the name Roorda as well as Van Roorda. According to a research made by Douwe Roorda (1536-1601) the two generations Roorda and Van Roorda, who lived around 1100, appear to be one family Roorda of Tjummarum, Cubaard and Genum. Sometimes they wrote their name as Roorda and at other times they used the name Van Roorda.

n 1470, Wyben Roorda married Auk Jaarsma and lived on the Roorda Estate at Genum. He died and was buried in Genum in 1506.

he first Roorda who was recorded in the chronicles of the Friesian Nobility was: Aetse Roorda of Genum-1390. According to the records of Douwe Roorda in the 16th century it appears that John Roorda of Tjummarum and Cubaard (1101-1152) had a son: Ruurd Roorda of Genum-1190 whose son was: Minia Roorda of Genum and Bergum-1228 Minia had a son: Syda Van Roorda of Genum-anno 1250, whose son was Minnie Roorda of Genum-1280, who had a son: Syda Roorda of Genum-1310. Syda was the father of two sons: Minnie Roorda and Wilco Roorda of Genum.

he son of Minnie Roorda of Genum was Hetxe Roorda of Genum and his name appears in the records and bibliographies of the Friesian Nobles.



Roorda Coat of Arms


Anno 1670             Coat of Arms of Roorda-van Eysinga
	Head of a Moor...................in gold
	Red rose...............................in silver
	A chain.................................with Ring attached
	Symbol on Helmet..............a Red Rose
	Right side.............................in Gold
	Left Side...............................a Sword
	Left Side...............................in Silver


Anno 1219            Coat of Arms of van Roorda
	Friesian Eagle.....................in Gold
	Head of a Moor...................in Blue
	Red Rose..............................in Gold
	Helmet...................................Dome Type
	Mark on Helmet...................Head of a Moor
	Turban...................................in Silver



Genealogy of the Roorda Family of Genum

John Roorda of Tjummarum and Cubaard 1101-1152

Ruurd Roorda of Genum 1190

Minia Roorda of Genum and Bergum 1228

Syda Roorda of Genum 1250

Minne Roorda of Genum 1280

Minne Roorda of Genum 1310

Syds Roorda of Roorda Estate at Genum

Wybren Roorda The Elder

Feye Roorda at Genum

Wybren Roorda The Younger

Syda Roorda of Genum at Clanstate

Syda Roorda 1568-1617

Feye Van Roorda 1635-1668 married to Van Eysinga

Sytse Roorda Van Eysinga

Sicco Roorda Van Eysinga 1697-1745

Philip Roorda Van Eysinga 1732-1780

Sicco Roorda 1761-1780?

Philip Roorda 1786-1846

Teake Roorda 1825-1897

Nicholas Roorda 1864-1949

Thomas Roorda 1895-198?

Nicholas Roorda 1924-1982

Douglas Roorda 1951-

Ronald Roorda 1956-

Jacob Roorda



Genealogy of Roorda Van Eysinga

First generation:
    Anno 1250 at Genum
    Syda Roorda Roorda Estate at Genum
Second generation:
    Wybren Roorda the Elder
Third generation:
    Feye Van Roorda at Genum
Fourth generation:
    Wybren Van Roorda the Younger
Fifth generation:
    Duke Syda Van Roorda, born 1568 in Genum, died February 18, 1617. His grave is in the church at Lutjewoude or Angsbuurb. He was married to Luts Syda Van Scheltema, living at Clanstate.
Sixth Generation:
    Wopke Van Roorda, died sometime between 1641 and 1644.
    Syda Van Roorda, died 1688.
    Wybren Van Roorda.
Seventh generation:
    Duke Syda Van Roorda, wife unknown. Children: Feye Van Roorda, born 1635, died 1668, married to Hylck Van Eysinga.
Eighth Generation:
    Sytze Roorda Van Eysinga. Van Eysinga was a very prominent family in Friesland of which four members are known to have undersigned the League of Nobles: Ritake, Fokke, Frans and Tjalling Van Eysinga.
Ninth Generation:
    Duke Sicco Roorda Van Eysinga, son of Syda, born in Kollum in 1698, died in Kollum. He married his first wife, Sara Bekker on April 9, 1745. Sara was the daughter of Philip Bekker. Philip died in 1736.
Tenth Generation:
    Children from his first marriage:
    1. Rebecca Roorda Van Eysinga, baptized January 22, 1730 and died in infancy.
    2. Philip Roorda Van Eysinga, baptized May 13, 1732 in Dokkum and died in Sneek on November 24, 1780.
        a. Ynkien Oldendorp, died September 3, 1757 b. Emke Vander Velde, died Spetember 24, 1760
    3. Rebecca Van Roorda Van Eysinga, baptized in Dokkum March 9, 1734. Died March 26, 1805. Syda Looyenga born February 29, 1758.
    4. Sara Roorda Van Eysinga, baptized April 29, 1736 in Dokkum.
    5. Child from his second marriage-Tryntje Roorda Van Eysinga, baptized June 26,1740
Eleventh Generation:
    Philip Roorda and Emke Van der Velde children:
    1. Sicco Roorda, baptized in Sneek May 29, 1761 and died in Franeker. First wife: Teake Rientjes November 14, 1784 Second wife: Dieuwke Louwes May 11, 1794 in Harlingen.
    2. Swobke Roorda baptized in Sneek July 15, 1763.
    3. Swobke Roorda baptized in Sneek.
    4. Sara Roorda baptized in Sneek December 25, 1766. John Vermeulen at Sneek
    5. Peter Roorda baptized at Sneek March 27, 1770.
    6. Sydse Roorda Van Eysinga baptized at Sneek February 24, 1772. Died at sea near St. Helena 1829.
    7. Jochum Roorda baptized at Sneek February 10, 1776.
    8. Herman Roorda baptized at Sneek March 3, 1779.
    9. Rebecca Roorda baptized at Sneek October 21, 1780.
Twelfth Generation:
    Sicco Roorda and Taetske Rientses (first wife) Children:
    1. Philip Roorda baptized at Franeker March 22, 1786 and died February 25, 1846. 1814 Pietje Martens Louwerran born 1791, died 1834. 1835 Katherine Elisabeth Jansen
    2. Rients Roorda baptized June 27, 1787 and died 1813 in the battle at Leipzig.
    3. Peter Roorda-from his second wife, Dieuwke Louwes.
    4. Tryntje Roorda born November 1795 in Leeuwarden.
Thirteenth Generation:
    Philip Roorda and first wife Pietje Martens Louwerran:
    1. Sicco Roorda born in Franeker, November 1, 1815 and died May 16, 1871.
    2. Martinus Roorda born November 25, 1817 and died May 26, 1829.
    3. Nicholas Roorda (after 1882 Roorda Van Eysinga) born in Franeker November 14, 1820 and died February 24, 1903. First wife:Lolke Cornelia Steensma born November 9, 1804, died July 20, 1857. Second wife: Antje Nannes Uiterdyk/Poll born November 2, 1833 and died December 23, 1910.
    4. Teake Roorda born in Franeker June 1, 1825 and died in Eestrum January 19, 1897. Married Lutske Abes Wiersma born February 3, 1823 and died January 4, 1910.
    5. Martinus Roorda born in Franeker July 14, 1829 and died in Dokkum October 13, 1883. Married Grietje Vellinga born in Bolsward May 25, 1829 and died in Dokkum November 18, 1925.
    6. Litske Roorda born in Franeker July 12, 1834 and died May 13, 1835
    Second wife-Catherine Elisabeth Jansen-and Philip Sicco Roorda’s children:
    1. Ann Roorda 1836-1864.
    2. John Roorda 1839-1906.
Fourteenth Generation:
    Teake Roorda/Philippus Roorda and Lutske Ebes Woersma children born in Eestrum:
    1. Philip Roorda born August 26, 1849….Tjitske W 23
    2. Pietje Roorda born January 14, 1865
    3. Aebe Roorda born December 12, 1852
    4. Libbe Roorda born January 9, 1885 and died April 13, 1932….Artje Frocee born December 27, 1857 and died February 2, 1938.
    5. Maaike Roorda born May 10, 1850.
    6. Sicco Roorda born March 9, 1859 and died February 18, 1939 in Heinno. Pieterke Stuiveling
    7. Nicholas Roorda born April 23, 1864 and died February 3, 1949. Married Doetje Steenstra born July 27, 1868 and died September 16, 1899. Second wife Antje Penninga
Fifteenth Generation:
    Nicholas Roorda and Doetje Steenstra married May 14, 1890. Had four children born in Groningen.
    1. Teake Roorda born September 25, 1891 and died 1912 in the Netherlands.
    2. Mient Roorda born November 28, 1893 and died 1976 in the USA.
    3. Thomas Roorda born September 16, 1895 in Gripskerk. Died 1983 in USA.
    4. Philipus Roorda born June 1897 and died 1972 in the Netherlands.
    5. Steentje Roorda-with second wife, Antje Penninga
Sixteenth Generation:
    Thomas Roorda and Saapke Beiboer married November 20, 1923 in California. Thomas Roorda came to Canada from the Netherlands in 1920 to Manitoba; to Alberta, Canada in 1921 and to California in 1922; married Sophie Beiboer in 1923, had one son and moved to Washington in 1925.
    1. Nicholas Roorda born in Weed, California. Died June 1982 in Lansing, Michigan.
    2. Mary Roorda born in Monroe, Washington and died in Monroe, Washington.
    3. Dorothy Roorda born in Monroe, Washington.
    4. Henry Roorda born in Monroe, Washington.
Seventeenth Generation:
    Nicholas Roorda and Rose Lena Jongsma, married May 2, 1947 in Oak Harbor, Washington.
    1. Rita Roorda born in Everett, Washington. Married Jerry Bolluyt.
    2. Marjorie Roorda born in Everett, Washington. Married Charles Brunsting.
    3. Douglas Roorda born in Monroe, Washington, Married Lori Lauer.
    4. Nancy Roorda born in Monroe, Washington. Married Arvin Van Dam.
    5. Ronald Roorda born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Married Deborah Riemersma.