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

Blest, 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 Blest surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blest in America

Blest is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blest surname appeared 163 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 Blest.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blest 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 Blest

The surname BLEST is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "blest," which means "blessed" or "consecrated." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone associated with the church or a religious order.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BLEST surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Bleste," indicating its presence in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the BLEST surname was Sir John Blest, a knight from Lincolnshire. He fought in the Third Crusade under King Richard I and is mentioned in several historical accounts from that time period.

During the 16th century, the BLEST family established themselves in Kent, with records showing their presence in the town of Maidstone. A prominent member of this family was William Blest, who served as the Mayor of Maidstone in 1578.

The BLEST surname has also been linked to various place names, such as Blest Hall in Lancashire and Blest Farm in Oxfordshire. These locations may have influenced the development of the surname or been named after individuals bearing the BLEST name.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was Sir Henry Blest, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He made significant contributions to the city, including the establishment of several charitable institutions and the construction of public buildings.

Another influential individual was Elizabeth Blest, a writer and social reformer who lived from 1826 to 1892. She was a prominent advocate for women's rights and authored several books on the subject, making her a significant figure in the early feminist movement.

The BLEST surname has also been associated with literary figures, such as the poet and essayist Beatrice Blest, who was born in 1893 and gained recognition for her works exploring themes of nature and spirituality.

Throughout its history, the BLEST surname has maintained a presence across various regions of England, while also spreading to other parts of the world through immigration and migration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blest

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

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 Blest 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 Blest 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 Blest was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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