Surname Asten - Meaning and Origin

Asten: What does the surname Asten mean?

The last name Asten is of Dutch origin and is derived from the word 'Aeste', which translates to mean 'stone'. This surname might have been given to the family because of either their profession or geographical location. In the past, individuals with this surname were likely to be associated with quarrying, masonry, or stone work, as this would explain the origin of the name.

Alternatively, the Asten family could have come to hold the name based on their geographical location, meaning they resided near a stone or prominent stony structure, such as a hill or stone landmark. It may also indicate that those with this surname lived on stony or rocky soil, such as in the deep North of Holland.

The name Asten is most common in The Netherlands, with the largest density being near the province of Limburg in the south. In recent times, the spread of the Asten surname has widened, and it is now most commonly found across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and England.

Asten: Where does the name Asten come from?

The last name Asten is most common in the Netherlands today. Historical records show that the name was first found in the area of the modern-day Netherlands, where it is believed to originally derive from the Dutch town of Asten, located in the province of North Brabant.

The Asten surname likely began to increase in popularity during the 1600s due to the rise of mercantile activity in and around Asten. As the last name became more associated with the town itself, more people began to adopt it.

Throughout the centuries, the Asten name would be spread throughout the rest of the Netherlands as well as across much of continental Europe. It now most commonly surfaces in the present-day Netherlands and other areas where people from the Netherlands have emigrated, particularly the United States, Canada, and Australia.

It is said that the last name Asten is a fairly uncommon one, with an estimated ten thousand people having the name in the Netherlands today. However, it remains a surprisingly common one among Dutch surnames for both the country and the focal area around Asten.

Variations of the surname Asten

Asten is an uncommon and uncommonly spelled surname meaning "Oak Tree" in Old English. It is not found in many countries, but is prominent in Ireland and England. One variant form of Asten is Astin, with the same meaning. Other variant spellings are Asten, Astin, Ashton, Assin, and Astoun. The most commonly found variant is Astin, mostly found in Ireland and England.

Although related in spelling, Astin is not to be confused with Ashton, a name of Anglo-Saxon origin. Ashton is derived from the Old English names Æscetun or Æscetune meaning “ash tree town.”

Common English and Irish surname variants of Asten/Astin include Plastin, Anastin, and Tanast. The Irish variant Aisgin is also from this Anglicized form.

The Scottish surname variant Esten is related to Asten, and has the same Old English origin, meaning “oak tree.”

In Spain and Latin America, the surname variant Castro is derived from the Basque word word Astuko, meaning “oak tree”, and shares the same origin as the English Asten.

The last variant of this surname is the Polish surname Ostrowski, which is derived from the Polish word Ostro, meaning “twig” or “instep.” It is believed to have originated from a nickname attributed to someone who either had a quick step, or grew up in a region with many oak trees.

Regardless of the variant form, all of the surnames in some way refer to an oak tree and how it has significant relevance to their family history.

Famous people with the name Asten

• Max Asten: Dutch actor who has appeared in multiple television shows and movies
• Tim Asten: former professional football player who played for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League
• Paul Asten: composer and conductor who specializes in contemporary music
• Louise Asten: Danish actress
• Daniel Asten: German actor who has appeared in multiple television shows
• Kristina Asten: German dancer and television presenter
• Ivan Asten: Dutch race car driver, Grand Prix motorcycle racer and automotive engineer
• Thomas Asten: Dutch professional footballer, who plays for German club FV Groen-Weiss Weilersbach
• Niclas Asten: British tech entrepreneur and investor, currently working in technology and digital transformation
• Maximilian Asten: German marketer and entrepreneur who co-founded the digital shop Kiezel Grafik and digital agency Kiezel Global
• Christopher Asten: Australian composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, known for his work in both games and film scores
• Emily Asten: British actress known for her roles in the television and film industry
• David Asten: British radio presenter and DJ who has worked with multiple major radio and podcast organisations
• Christina Asten: Swedish singer who has gained recognition for her performances with the Swedish band 'The Magma'.
• Andreas Asten: Dutch former footballer who played for multiple clubs including HFC Haarlem, Leiden, HVV Hollandia and AFC Ajax
• Oskar Asten: Swedish musician who plays multiple instruments including the guitar, bass guitar and keyboard
• Timo Asten: German comedy performer who has worked for MTV, Comedy Central and ProSieben
• Ole Asten: Danish strongman, acrobatic athlete and stunt performer who has shown his skills in multiple theatre shows, films and series

Other surnames

AstelAstellAstemerAster