västen
Västen is a Nordic toponym and surname that can refer to more than one geographic or genealogical subject. In Nordic toponymy, Västen has appeared as the name of rural settlements or farmsteads in Sweden and Finland, often dating to the medieval or early modern periods. The exact origin of any particular Västen place name is usually tied to local geography, landholding patterns, or family names, and etymologies may connect to words meaning west or to descriptors of location relative to a church, manor, or road. As a surname, Västen is borne by individuals in Nordic regions and among descendants in diaspora communities. Surname forms can vary with spelling and regional pronunciation.
In encyclopedic references, Västen is treated as a toponymic and patronymic term rather than as a single