Surname Balster - Meaning and Origin

Balster: What does the surname Balster mean?

The surname Balster is an English patronymic surname derived from the personal name Baldwin. The name “Baldwin” translates to “brave friend” or “bold friend” in Germanic language. The personal name was initially borne by individuals of aristocracy or noble birth and was extremely popular in medieval Europe.

The Balster surname first began to appear in records of the late 12th and early 13th centuries in the region of Salop, located in Shropshire, England. Additionally, early Balster family members were documented as landowners in Lancashire, Cheshire and Durham.

In Scotland, the "St. Balsover" variation of the surname first appeared in records around 1300 A.D. Alexander Balsover acquired a certain portion of land near Peebles in 1320 and is considered to be one of the earliest recorded examples of the surname outside of England.

Today, the Balster surname is most prevalent in England and Scotland. The modern-day Balsters are likely to be distant relatives of those first found in 13th century Britain. The surname is still occasionally used as a given name, perhaps as a reminder of the once noble origin of the Balster family.

Balster: Where does the name Balster come from?

The last name Balster is generally most commonly found today in Germany and Central Europe. In Germany, Balster is usually found around the wider area of Bremen, a major port city in the very North of the country. It is a relatively rare name outside of Germany, though it can be found throughout Central Europe, with scattered occurrences in France, the Netherlands, and Poland.

The Balster name is particularly associated with the city of Altona in Hamburg. Altona was a major harbour city in the 19th century. Many of the Balster families who lived there were employed in the city’s booming shipbuilding industry. Many of these families later moved to other cities across Germany, as well as to other parts of Europe.

Today, the Balster surname is no longer as common as it once was. However, due to the large number of Balsters who moved away from Altona during the 19th century, the name can still be found in small numbers throughout Germany, Central Europe, and even further afield.

Variations of the surname Balster

The surname Balster is an anglicized version of the German surname Balzer, derived from the Middle High German Balser, meaning ‘one who lived near a marketplace’. The accepted variants for the German spelling of Balster are Ballzer, Bellezer, and Bellezar. The preposition von is sometimes added for further distinction.

The surname's variations in other languages include Balser, Belser, Belsez, Baalser, and Balsinski in German; the Dutch spelling is Balzer and variants have Polzer, Baals, Baalz, Polsar, Polesz, and Baalser; in Polish variants include Belczynski, Belszynski, Belczynski, Belczerski, Belczyski, Bellczynski, Bialczynski and in Czech Balleser. In addition, Balster could be spelled Baelster or Baelzar in English.

The Balster surname may also have evolved into various other surnames, such as Balser, Bellser, Ballser, Balserow, Balserovic, Ballsensell, Balsinger, Balserin, Bellsor, Balzmer, Balzers, Belzers, Belsezar, Bolcondi, Balazic, Belczer, Bolzner, Belczeke, Belcovic, and Balzo. Other variations include Baalser, Baasler, Balseron, Balseroff, and Balseroffski.

Overall, it is interesting to note the variety of spellings and surnames that have been derived from Balster. There are many variations of this surname across various regions and languages, ensuring that the Balster line has endured for centuries.

Famous people with the name Balster

• Tobias Balster: A German entrepreneur and venture capitalist who is the CEO of the investment firm Airfield Ventures.
• Karl Balster: German biochemist and one of the founders of biotechnology.
• Ludvig Balster: Norwegian architect and urban planner who is best known for his residential projects in Oslo.
• Dora Balster: German swimmer who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics and was put in a Hall of Fame in her hometown.
• Lars Balster: Danish comic artist and curator of comic arts who is known for his style of colorful, magical graphics.
• Alexis Balster: American actor and musician who has appeared in films such as Purple Rain, The Goonies, and Little Miss Sunshine.
• Ulrika Balster: Swedish athlete and cross country skier who won a bronze medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
• Hans Balster: German actor and musician who has starred in films such as Das Boot and Rocky V.
• Hubert Balster: Belgian political figure who served as the Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999-2004.
• Jackie Balster: American country music singer and songwriter who charted several singles on the country charts.

Other surnames

Balsters