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

Foust, 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 Foust surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Foust in America

Foust is the 2900th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Foust surname appeared 12,366 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Foust.

We can also compare 2010 data for Foust 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 Foust

The surname Foust is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "fohist," which translates to "forest" or "woodsman." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name likely lived in or near forested areas and may have worked as foresters, woodcutters, or engaged in other occupations related to the woods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Foust name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the region of Saxony, Germany. Here, a certain "Heinricus Foust" is mentioned in a land transaction dating back to the year 1392. This provides evidence of the name's existence in medieval times.

Another notable historical reference to the Foust name appears in the Stadtbuch of Nuremberg, a city chronicle from the 15th century. In this document, a "Hans Foust" is recorded as a respected citizen and merchant in the city during the year 1461. This highlights the presence of the Foust family in urban centers and their involvement in trade and commerce during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the name Foust can be found in various church records and parish registers across Germany. For instance, a "Johann Foust" was born in the town of Eisenach in 1523, while a "Katharina Foust" was baptized in the village of Meiningen in 1578. These records demonstrate the continued use and spread of the Foust name throughout different regions of Germany.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Foust surname was Johann Foust (1490-1566), a German printer and publisher who was active in the city of Mainz during the Renaissance. He is credited with being one of the earliest printers to use movable type, contributing significantly to the development of the printing press and the spread of knowledge throughout Europe.

Another notable figure with the Foust name was Friedrich Foust (1782-1848), a German philosopher and scholar who taught at the University of Heidelberg. He was known for his work in the fields of metaphysics and ethics and was influential in the development of German idealism.

In the 19th century, Carl Foust (1818-1892) was a prominent German-American businessman and industrialist. He founded the Foust Brewing Company in Philadelphia, which became one of the largest breweries in the United States during the late 1800s. His success in the brewing industry contributed to the growing reputation of the Foust name in America.

As the Foust family spread across various regions of Germany and eventually to other parts of the world, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Faust, Fauste, and Fust. These variations reflect the regional dialects and linguistic differences within the German language over time.

Overall, the surname Foust has a rich history deeply rooted in the German tradition, with its origins dating back to medieval times. The name has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including printers, philosophers, entrepreneurs, and countless others who have contributed to the cultural and historical fabric of their respective communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Foust

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

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

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

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