Gottlieb Von Boorian credited with founding the town of Burien, Washington immigrated from Germany to Seattle, Washington in 1880 and found interest in a small settlement called Sunnydale, south of Seattle. He built a log cabin on the southeast corner of Lake Burien which was given his name. Over the years, the name was gradually misspelled until reaching the current spelling "Burien". Later, the community that he is said to have established was also given the name of Burien.