indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Type Surname (from given name & from nickname)
Usage Dutch, Low German
Other Forms FormsPostma (Frisian variant)
Meaning & History
From a personal name which was given to a posthumous child, i.e., one born after the death of his father, derived from Latin postumus "last, last-born" (superlative of posterus "coming after, subsequent") via Late Latin posthumus, which was altered by association with Latin humare "to bury", suggesting death (i.e., thought to consist of post "after" and humus "grave", hence "after death"); the one born after the father's death obviously being the last.