Surname Yost - Meaning and Origin

Uncovering the History and Culture of My Surname 'Yost': Insights from My iGENEA DNA Test

Delving into my DNA's past through my recent iGENEA DNA test, I have unearthed the cultural and historical richness surrounding my surname, Yost. From its origins in Germany, through the era of Knights and Emperors, and beyond, this exploration has opened a unique window onto my ancestral history and lineage.

K. Yost

Yost: What does the surname Yost mean?

The last name Yost is of German origin and is derived from the name Joost, the diminutive of the German name Johannes. Johannes is a biblical name derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means “Yahweh is gracious”. The name is derived from the elements YHWH and chanan, meaning to be gracious or merciful.

In the United States, the name Yost is most commonly found as a variant spelling of the German name Jost, which is derived from the Middle High German name Joest. Joest was derived from the Old High German name Jozo, which possibly stemmed from elements of “jod” meaning “to fight” or “jod” meaning “judgment”.

The surname Yost is also popular in the Netherlands, where it is derived from the Dutch name Jost, which is either a variation of the Middle High German name Joost or a variant of the Frisian name Iohst, derived from elements of “juut” meaning “boldness” or “intellect”.

In Germany, the name Yost has multiple varieties, such as Jost, Joost, Joes, Jos, and Joes. It was most commonly found as a short form of other German names.

Today, the name Yost is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. It is used primarily as a surname, though it is still occasionally found as a given name as well.

Yost: Where does the name Yost come from?

The surname Yost is most commonly found in Germany, where it's estimated that about 3,000 people share the name. It's also frequently seen in the United States, where it has gained a firm foothold since the late 19th century when many German immigrants with the name Yost arrived.

The Eastern Seaboard, especially Pennsylvania, is the highest concentration of the surname in the U.S., though smaller percentages exist in a number of other states, including Washington, California, Ohio, New York, and Texas. Additionally, many people of Swiss descent carry the Yost surname in Canada, South America, and Australia.

The Yost name is thought to be derived from a patronymic origin, and in Middle High German, would have been referred to as "Jost," which means "the man from Jost." While its origin as a given name is uncertain, the name has been linked to the mid-14th century, when it was first seen in the Medingen Armorials.

Most commonly, Yost is a surname used as a first name, especially in the United States and Germany. It is an uncommon name, but if you have it, it's likely you have family members in Germany, the United States, Canada, South America, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Yost

The surname Yost is a surname with Germanic origins, and can be spelled in various ways. Some of the most common forms of the surname include Yost, Yoste, Yosten, Yoston, Yosten, Yostin, Yostyn, Yostman, Yestes, Yostes, and Yoste18.

The origin of the name is from a place-name, most likely in Northern Germany, as many of the variants of the surname are derived from places. The word itself is derived from the Old Germanic “yost”, which means “a meeting or gathering of people”.

The Yost surname is found mainly in France, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, but due to the frequent migrations of many Europeans throughout history, the name can now be found all around the world.

Variants of the surname might also have been adapted to fit different languages. For example, the Germanic “Yost” could have been changed to “Yoste” in French or “Iost” in Spanish.

In the United States, the surname has become slightly modified. Examples include Yoste, Yostin, Yosten, Yoston, Yostman, Yestes, Jost, Yostes, Yosty, and Yoste18.

Overall, the Yost surname has many variations and is easily adaptable to different languages and cultures. Yost is a common name found in many different regions around the world, and its many variations provide hints to its roots, origins, and history.

Famous people with the name Yost

• Mardi Yost: country music singer, songwriter, and musician
• Greg Yost: film editor, known for credits in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Black Panther
• John Yost: American Revolutionary War veteran and a great-great-grandfather of the 19th American President Rutherford B. Hayes
• Bob Yost: professional baseball pitcher and Major League Baseball coach
• Bob Yost: American soccer goalkeeper
• Tony Yost: former Canadian Football League defensive tackle
• Rusty Yost: retired American professional football guard
• Mark Yost: American sprinter and record holder for the 100m dash
• Eric Yost: actor, known for his roles on Game Shakers, Liv and Maddie, and The Family Man
• Morgan Yost: writer, director, and producer, known for his work on the films The Beautiful Ordinary and Man of Marble.

Other surnames

YosefYoshidaYossi