The following information is derived from the book Familieboek Elema: een biografische beschrijving van meer dan duisend Elema's, almede enige historische aantekeningen ov, (Private Publication by F.R. Elema, et al, Groningen, Netherlands). 1965
According to FR Elema, there are four families of Elema's, and that there are no common ancestor to these four families of Elema's. F.R. Elema further states, that of the four families, two families Elema adopted the Elema family name in approximately 1811 with the introduction of the Burgerlijke Stand. In the third family Elema from "Almaheerd" the surname Elema can be found before 1782. It is further unknown how the fourth Elema Family from "Elemaheerd" are related to the other Elema families (p.185).
The information on this web site reflects the descendants of the Elema family from "Elemaheerd" from Godlinze (also known as the Bierumer Elema's). The ancestor to this family was Tonnis Jan Elema (born at Heveskes approximately 1740), a farmer from Godlinze, Netherlands on "Elemaheerd" - a farm which he bought in 1785. He first married Jantje Roelfs in Heveskes on 27 August 1763. Jantje passed away before 1778. There where no children from this marriage.
Tonnis then married Eelje Harms on 1 May 1778. Eelje also passed away on 14 August 1786 in Godlinze. Two children were born from this marriage.
Tonnis then married Martje Bruins from Losdorp on 20 December 1789. Three children were born out of this marriage.