The Buseth (in Norway) or Busath (in America) family name comes from a farm on the Bu river lying about 30 miles south of Trondheim, Norway. The farm was cleared and settled by 800 A.D. or earlier.
The farm name has been spelled in various ways over time: Busett (1559), Busettir (1590), Busetter (1626), Bueset (1665), Buesett (1723), Busæt (1797, 1810, 1811), Buesæt (1796, 1798, 1801, 1804, 1807, 1808), Busæth (1810, 1813). The spelling of the family name has come to be standardized as Buseth or Buset in Norway and Busath in America.
Although the farm was first settled centuries ago, the earliest we can document any of our ancestors living on the farm is when the widow Marit Evensdatter married the widower Ole Arnesen on 2 July 1776. Marit had two daughters from her first marriage, but Ole had no children to take over the farm. So, the farm was eventually taken over by Marit’s older daughter Guru Andersen and her husband Jens Jensen, who had come from the Solemsvold farm. They are Christian Busath’s paternal grandparents and are the founding parents of the Buseth or Busath family today.
Due to its significance to the family, the farm has been visited by many family members over the years. Pictures of the farm are provided below for the benefit of those who cannot make the trip themselves.The following photo was taken by Don Busath on his trip to his family’s homeland. Don Busath (February 4, 1931– February 8, 2017) was an American photographer who specialized in portraiture. He photographed Ezra Taft Benson, Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson among many other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also photographed many government officials, although his true speciality was making family photographs.
Harald Buset (or Buseth), who lives on the Busath farm (Buseth/Buset Farm to the Norwegians) sent three pictures of the farm taken by drones in 2022 (see link below). Richard met Harald when he visited the farm in 2023. Harald has been very helpful with the history of the farm.
Click to see drone pictures of the Busath Farm by Harald Buset PDF