 Surhuisterveen began to develop at the end of the 16th century as peat-diggers and boatmen built their homes in the area.The name Surhuisterveen refers to the time of the peat-colonies, and means "the peat-bogs of Surhuizum".Surhuizum is another constituent village of Achtkarspelen, which is significantly smaller, but also significantly older than Surhuisterveen.