bursten

Bursten is a surname of German origin. It likely derives from the Middle High German word bürste for brush, or from an occupational term for someone who made or sold brushes. The form Bursten may reflect an older spelling, while standard German retains the umlaut as Bürsten.

Geographic distribution and history: The surname appears in German-speaking regions and in diaspora communities formed through emigration. It is encountered in genealogical records dating from the 17th through the 20th centuries in Germany and in countries such as the United States and Canada, where bearers sometimes settled in urban trade or craft professions related to textiles and household goods. As with many occupational names, Bursten may have arisen independently in more than one locale.

Variants and spelling: In German, the current standard is Bürsten (plural of Bürste), while non-German records may use Bursten as an umlaut-free variant. Anglicized forms can include Bursten and Burston, depending on the historical transliteration practices of local record-keepers.