Surname Borst - Meaning and Origin

Borst: What does the surname Borst mean?

The last name Borst is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname that is thought to come from the Middle High German word “borst,” meaning “thicket.” It is thought that this surname likely originated as a habitational name, meaning that early families who took on the name Borst likely lived near a thicket or dense growth of trees. It is speculated that these families may have been forest dwellers, perhaps hunters or woodcutters. The surname Borst is most commonly found throughout Germany, The Netherlands, and areas where Ashkenazic Jews settled.

In modern times, the name Borst is particularly prominent in the United States. According to research from the U.S. Census Bureau, the surname Borst is most commonly found in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. This may be due to the fact that during the mid-1800s, many Jewish people from German and Dutch-speaking countries moved to these areas in search of more jobs or a better life. It is also possible that members of the Borst family immigrated to the U.S. during this period.

The name Borst has a long and distinguished history, and today it is shared by many people throughout the world. This surname is a reminder of the courage and determination of the many people of German and Dutch-Jewish descent who left their homes in search of a better life.

Borst: Where does the name Borst come from?

The last name Borst is a relatively uncommon Dutch surname in the Netherlands today. Historically, the surname is found concentrated in the eastern Low Countries, including the provinces of Friesland, Groningen, and Overijssel, although today the Borst name is found throughout the Netherlands.

Since the 19th century, the Borst name has experienced significant migrations into other parts of Europe and overseas. Emigration to Canada and the United States in particular began in the late 1800s, and Borsts are now found all over North America, Europe, and Australasia. Canada and the United States are now home to the largest populations of Borsts.

The modern Borst family is composed of those descended from original families from the Netherlands, as well as the various branches of the family tree stemming from emigrants and their descendants. Many Borsts have also changed their last name to something more anglicized—such as Bort or Boarst—in an attempt to blend in with the local population in their new countries.

The Borst surname remains an uncommon one today, though those descended from the original family branches can still be found throughout the world. Thanks to the significant contributions made by the various Borst branches, this small Dutch surname is now more widely spread than ever before.

Variations of the surname Borst

The name Borst is a German surname thought to have originated from the Tudor area of Germany. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German phrase “boresten”, meaning “urgent”. This surname is also spelled as Borstel, Borstlein, Burrst, Bürstel, Borstall and Berstel.

Borstel is a variant of Borst, found mainly in Bavaria, Germany. This spelling was likely adopted due to Bavarian influence, as the Bavarian dialect of German includes the letter “l” in place of some variations of the letter “s”.

Borstlein is another form of the Borst surname. This spelling occurs mainly in Saxony, Germany, and is likely attributed to the influence of the Saxon dialect of German which includes the letter “e” before the letter “i” .

Burrst is yet another variant of Borst, and is most likely attributed to the influence of the Northern Germany dialect of German. This spelling likely derives from the fact that the double “r” was used in place of the letter “s” in Northern German dialects.

Bürstel is a variant of the Borst surname, also found in Bavaria, Germany. This spelling is attributed to the Bavarian dialect of German which includes the letter “ü” in place of some variations of the letter “s”.

Borstall is a variant of Borst, found mainly in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. This spelling is believed to have been adopted as a result of the influence of the Alemannic German dialect which includes the letter “a” in place of some variations of the letter “s”.

Berstel is yet another variant of the Borst surname, and is thought to have derived from the influence of the Franconian German dialect which includes the letter “e” in place of some variations of the letter “s”.

In summary, the surname Borst has several variants and spellings, all derived from various German dialects, such as Bavarian, Saxon and Alemannic. The variants of this surname include Borstel, Borstlein, Burrst, Bürstel, Borstall and Berstel.

Famous people with the name Borst

• Hans Borst: Dutch architect who designed many famous structures in Amsterdam's city centre
• Dietrich Borst: German engineer and inventor of the object-oriented programming language Smalltalk
• Arthur Borst: American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
• Walther Borst: German engineer, inventor, and pioneer of aircraft engineering
• Crissy Borst: American internet personality and one-half of the popular YouTube channel Family Fun Pack
• Sarah Borst: American journalist and author known for her work on women's reproductive rights
• Franz Borst: German filmmaker and founder of the erstwhile studio Constance-Film
• Horst Borst: German journalist and photographer, specialising in wildlife and conservation
• Oliver Borst: German Paralympian and current world record holder in the men's long jump
• Maaike Borst: Dutch reality star and cast member on the 2018 season of Big Brother Netherlands

Other surnames

BorscheidBorscheitBorstel