indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Type Surname (from location & from nickname)
Other Forms FormsDorste, Duerst, Duerste, Durste, Derst, Dorsts
Meaning & History
Either a topographic name for someone who lived on dry hard ground from dörr "dry" or a habitational name from any of the places called Dorst near Cologne or Helmstedt or Dorste in the Harz Mountains. Or a nickname from Middle Low German dorst "boldness cunning". Dutch variant of Van Dorst without preposition a habitational name from Dorst, a place in the province of North Brabant which placename has been explained from Dornt, -t plural of Dorn for a place with ‘thorn bushes’ after a consonant evolution known as zooming -r into -s.