Surname Basten - Meaning and Origin
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Basten: What does the surname Basten mean?
The last name Basten is of German origin and evolved from the ancient Germanic name Bastian. It is derived from the old Germanic personal name "Bastjan” which was a compound name created from the elements “bast” meaning “rod”, “staff” or “club”, and “jan” meaning “God is gracious”.
The name Basten could have been an occupational name given to someone who made wooden utensils such as clubs, staves and walking sticks. Alternatively, it could have derived from an ancient personal name meaning “strong as a staff”, i.e. “strong in battle”, or it could simply have been a nickname given to someone who was physically strong.
The oldest known evidence of the surname Basten in Germany dates back to 1422 in Lower Saxony, where a Johannes Basten was recorded in documents from that time. Throughout the ages, the name has been adopted and used in many different spellings in various countries such as Baster, Bastery, Bastert, Basterd, Bastert and Bastean.
Today the surname is mainly found in Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and the United States. It is believed that many of those bearing the Basten surname in the U.S. are descendants of Dutch immigrants who settled in the Midwestern states.
Whilst the name Basten is still widely found in Germany today, it is likely a much rarer surname in other countries due to the migration of people bearing the name outside of Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisBasten: Where does the name Basten come from?
The last name Basten is most commonly found in Germany. It is estimated that more than 21,800 individuals in Germany today carry the name Basten, making it the 52nd most common surname in the country. The name appears to be concentrated in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located in the northwestern part of Germany, where it is especially predominant in the cities of Duisburg, Oberhausen, and Duisburg-Ruhrort.
There are also significant populations of people bearing the Basten name in the United States, Australia, Brazil, and the Netherlands. The name is not as common outside of Germany as it is within the country, but it is found in significant numbers. According to the 2010 United States Census, over 1,600 people in the United States have the last name Basten. On the other hand, nearly 5,500 people in the Netherlands carry the Basten last name, making it their 139th most common surname.
The Basten name may have originally been derived from a given name or from a place name. Alternatively, it might also be derived from the Old German term "besan," which referred to a person who made a living by selling goods. In fact, the Germanic names Bast (variant of Bastian) and Bastian can also be shortened to create the last name Basten.
Variations of the surname Basten
The surname Basten is derived from the Old German personal name Bardo. This surname has numerous spellings and variants, including Baster, Basten, Bästlein, Bästlein and Bästle, and various other spellings across different countries.
In the Netherlands the surname is most commonly spelled Basten or Basten. It is also found in Germany, Austria and France as Baster and Bastert and in Lithuania as Bastrykas.
In England variants include Basten, Baster, Bastian, Bastert, Bastion and Bastion and variations.
In the United States the surname is most commonly spelled Basten. Variations in spelling can be found in records of emigrants from Germany and the Netherlands, such as Bästlein, Bastert, Baster, Bästle, Beusten, Bost, Beustink, Bester, Besten, Beaston and even Bastenburgh.
In other countries the surname is typically spelled and pronounced the same as in the country of origin. The alternate spellings Bastin and Bastan appear in India, while in Australia there is a variant spelling called Bastert.
In addition, the surname has evolved in various directions over time. Many people with the surname Basten have adopted the French surname Bassion or Bessard. It is also found as Bás and Bosito in the Philippines, while in Mexico it is spelled Bastian.
In Scandinavia, the surname is usually spelled Boström or Bostrand. In countries such as Scotland and Ireland, the surname has become associated with the Irish family name, MacClasstin.
Famous people with the name Basten
- Marco van Basten: Former Dutch professional footballer, considered one of the greatest players of all time.
- Jan Peter Balkenende: Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2002 to 2010.
- Noud van Basten: Dutch associations football referee.
- Michael van Basten: Dutch tribune, advisor, and former Member of Parliament.
- Johan Basten: Dutch entrepreneur, founder of Vegabrand.
- Jan Willem Basten: Dutch investor and entrepreneur.
- Mauk van Basten: Dutch opera singer.
- Arjen Robben: Former Dutch professional footballer who has represented the Netherlands in two World Cups and three European Championships.
- Galen van Basten: Dutch professor and former director of the Centre for Maritime Research in Rotterdam.
- Evert van Basten: Dutch footballer and coach.