Find out how popular the last name Bist is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bist.

Bist, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bist surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bist in America

Bist is the 104156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bist surname appeared 172 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bist.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bist to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bist

The surname BIST has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "bista," which translates to "bee" or "beehive." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with beekeepers or those involved in the production of honey.

The earliest recorded instances of the name BIST can be traced back to the region of Bavaria in southern Germany. Historical records from the 1500s mention families with this surname residing in small villages and towns throughout the region. One notable early reference is found in a church registry from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which lists the marriage of Hans BIST and Margaretha Müller in 1572.

As the name spread throughout Germany over the centuries, variations in spelling emerged, including Biste, Bist, and Bisten. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent record-keeping practices of the time. The name was also occasionally associated with certain place names, such as Bistedt, a small village in Lower Saxony, suggesting that some families may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin.

One notable individual bearing the BIST surname was Johann Christoph BIST, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1645 to 1718. He was a prominent figure in the Lutheran church and authored several influential works on theology and ethics.

Another significant historical figure was Wilhelm BIST, a German military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. Born in 1785 in Nuremberg, he rose through the ranks of the Prussian army and played a key role in several battles against the French forces, including the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.

In the realm of arts and culture, Carl BIST (1821-1892) was a notable German painter and etcher known for his landscape and genre scenes. His works were widely exhibited throughout Europe during his lifetime and are now held in various museum collections.

The name BIST also found its way to other parts of Europe, as evidenced by the Norwegian explorer and adventurer Roald BIST (1872-1928). He gained fame for his daring expeditions to the Arctic regions, where he documented the lives of indigenous communities and made significant contributions to the field of ethnography.

Lastly, Karl BIST (1900-1982) was a German-American scientist and inventor who played a crucial role in the development of early computing technology. He worked alongside pioneers like Alan Turing and was instrumental in the creation of the first electronic computers used during World War II.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bist

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bist.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bist was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bist has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bist was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bist, please contact us.

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