Surname Balsters - Meaning and Origin

Balsters: What does the surname Balsters mean?

The last name Balsters is of Dutch origin and can be found in records from the Netherlands going back to the 16th century. The primary meaning of the name Balsters is "son of Balster," indicating that it is a patronymic surname.

The given name Balster is thought to be derived from an Old German word, possibly "balde," meaning "bold" or "bravery," or the adjective "blost," meaning "blissful." Balster may also be a variant of the name Baltasar, which is derived from the Hebrew elements meaning "Baal" (God) and "tsodeq" (justice).

The name can be found in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, indicating that it spread far and fast. Balsters is seen primarily as a Dutch surname, but has been recorded in other countries as well.

The name Balsters is often associated with a tradition of bravery and armed forces. Historical records have found Balsters families involved in defense and war. This is logical since the meaning of the name is linked to bravery, and historically a large number of Balsters family members have served in the armed forces.

In addition to a tradition of military service, many Balsters families had a long history of skilled craftsmanship. Records from the Netherlands dating back to the 1600s show several Balsters families working as farmers, millers, bakers, tailors, carpenters and masons.

The Balsters name continues to persist and be celebrated today. It stands for a history of bravery, defense, and skilled craftsmanship. On the whole, Balsters represents the best of Holland.

Balsters: Where does the name Balsters come from?

The last name Balsters is quite uncommon today; however, it has been seen primarily in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France. The surname is originally derived from the Dutch phrase “baksters lof,” meaning “baker’s delight” and was used to refer to a baker or someone who has expertise in the craft of baking. Later, Balsters became widely used as a surname in continental Europe and eventually took hold in several other countries.

Despite having a relatively small presence in the United States, Balsters has been found in several areas of the country, mainly in the Midwest and northeastern states from Wisconsin through New York. One notable American bearing the Balsters name is Experience Balsters, an author who has penned several books on historic European architecture.

The last name Balsters is also prevalent in parts of Asia, especially in Taiwan. One well-known Balsters from this region is former Taiwanese governor Yang-Chiung Balsters.

Due to its relative obscurity and widespread use across Europe and Asia, it can be challenging to determine its exact population today. However, it is safe to say that the Balsters last name is still in existence today and is enjoyed by many families across the globe.

Variations of the surname Balsters

The surname Balsters is a patronymic form of the Dutch personal name Balthasar, derived from the Greek form of the name "Balthazar". The name Balsters is relatively uncommon and has a range of variants and spelling variants, including Balthasar, Balthaus, Balthazauer, Balthaser, Balthasir, Balthazar, Balthsar, Baltser, Balser, Balsier, Baulstr, Boltster, Bolteas, and Boltusar.

The Dutch form of the surname is usually written with a double ‘l’ in the spelling and the French variant as Bauzas.

In England there are several variations of the name, such as Bolster, Boldstr, and Bullster. In Scotland it is mostly found as Baudaste, Balldster and Baltziate.

Variations in the United States include Balthazar, Balthaser, Baulster, Baltaser, Baullstr, Bolsa-Star, Boltz, Bottorff, Balstr, Beltzer, Bolesar, Bolgar, and Booles. In Canada, the spelling is most commonly found as Baulstr and Balstar.

Other surnames of the same origin as Balsters include Bolt, Boltens, Bolten, Boltin, Bolee, Bolser, and Bool. These can all be traced to the Dutch personal name Balthasar.

Famous people with the name Balsters

• Roelof Balsters: a Dutch painter who founded the Society of Dutch Watercolour Painters in 1890.
• Ineke Balsters: a Dutch actress and television director.
• Bart Balsters: a Dutch dancer and choreographer, and former professor at the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design.
• Robert Balsters: a Dutch rally driver who competed in several major rallies in his career.
• Jill Balsters: a Dutch composer and pianist who composed symphonic works for several public and private events.
• Marjolein Balsters: a Dutch writer who has published several novels and children’s books.
• Harry Balsters: a Dutch politician who served as alderman of Rotterdam from 2001 to 2010.
• Adrian Balsters: a Dutch architect known for his functionalist buildings in the Netherlands.
• Arno Balsters: a Dutch cyclist who won gold in the Keirin at the Copenhagen World Championships in 1958.
• Jeroen Balsters: a Dutch cinematographer who has worked in a variety of genres from drama to documentary.

Other surnames

Balster