Surname Kost - Meaning and Origin
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Kost: What does the surname Kost mean?
The last name Kost is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the Old German word ‘kosten’, meaning ‘host’ or ‘innkeeper’. This suggests that someone with the last name Kost may have originally held a job relating to innkeeping, such as a butcher, cook, or tavern keeper. It may also be derived from the Old Germanic word ‘kusten’, which means ‘boarder’. This suggests that individuals with this last name may have been someone who boarded ships or travellers.
It is believed that a large number of people with the last name Kost emigrated from Germany to various other countries, such as England, Canada, and the United States of America. In some cases, those with the Kost last name may have changed their surname to avoid being discriminated against by those in their new countries.
The Kost surname is rather uncommon, and may not be found in some areas. Those with the Kost last name may also have felt a sense of belonging to certain Germanic cultures, or even particular geographic areas, due to their shared surname.
Order DNA origin analysisKost: Where does the name Kost come from?
The last name Kost is a common surname originating from Central and Eastern Europe, specifically Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia. It is derived from the Old Slavic word “kost” which means “bone” and often denotes someone from a noble or aristocratic family.
Today, Kost is a particularly common surname in Poland, where it is estimated to be held by more than 64,000 people. It is also particularly frequent within Poland’s Jewish population as a result of its widespread adoption as a last name among Ashkenazi Jews from around the 18th century.
Additionally, the last name Kost is also considerably popular in Ukraine, where it is held by around 14,000 people. Other countries which boast substantial populations of people with the surname include Belarus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
Beyond Europe, Kost is relatively uncommon in the United States; in 2020, it was the 6,378th most frequent surname in the country, with an estimated 6,000 people bearing the name. In Canada, where the surname was introduced by European immigrants, Kost is the 8,517th most common last name.
Variations of the surname Kost
The surname Kost is of German origin, and there are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Variants: The most commonly seen variant is Koster, and other variants include Kost, Koste, Kast, Cost, Kasten, Kosten, Kastner, Kaste, Kostener, Kostner, and Kosterman.
Spellings: Other spellings of the name Kost include Koste, Kast, Cost, Kasten, Kosten, Kastner, Kaste, Kostener, Kostner, and Kosterman.
Surnames of the same origin: Common surnames that have the same origin are Kosters, Kostner, Kostmans, Kostersma, Kosterman, Kostermans and Kosten.
Variants of the surname Kost can be found in many countries, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States. It is especially popular in the Midwest region of the United States, where many immigrants from Germany and the Netherlands settled after World War II. The surname is generally associated with Germanic cultures, but is also found in other countries where Germanic influences have taken hold.
The spelling and origin of surnames can sometimes be traced back for generations. In the case of Kost, the earliest records with this surname were found in Germany and date back to the 16th century. As the surname made its way to different countries, the spelling often changed slightly to make the pronunciation easier for the native language.
The original spelling of the surname was Kost, with the earliest known record in the 15th century in Germany. The spelling variations soon followed, and by the 20th century, many different variants could be found around the world, each with its own unique pronunciation.
Overall, the surname Kost has kept its original form and meaning over the centuries. It is still prevalent today, and its various spellings and surnames of the same origin are recognizable in many communities.
Famous people with the name Kost
- Jenna Kost: American multimedia artist and professor
- Chester Kost: former Philadelphia Flyers hockey player
- Louise Kost: actress and casting agent
- Rodney Kost: former Los Angeles Sparks basketball player
- Idina Kost: Australian writer, editor, and publisher
- Stan Kost: retired Russian basketball player
- Ross Kost: former Canadian football player
- Nick Kost: former University of Albany football player
- Jim Kost: American sculptor and painter
- Arthur Kost: Polish-Israeli sculptor
- Tom Kost: former professional wrestler
- Gilda Kost: American fashion designer
- Zbigniew Kost: Polish athlete
- Fantom Kost: American composer, producer, and singer
- Wesley Kost: American country singer