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

Gerst, 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 Gerst surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gerst in America

Gerst is the 15328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gerst surname appeared 1,913 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gerst.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gerst 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 Gerst

The surname GERST is of German origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "gerste," which means "barley." In medieval times, surnames were often based on a person's occupation, location, or physical characteristics, and GERST likely referred to someone who grew or traded barley.

The name can be traced back to various regions of Germany, particularly in areas known for barley cultivation and brewing, such as Bavaria and Saxony. Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries show variations in spelling, including Gerste, Gerstn, and Gerstner.

One of the earliest references to the name GERST can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of Saxon charters and documents dating back to the 9th century. The name appears in a document from 1287, where a certain "Heinricus Gerst" is mentioned as a landowner in the town of Meissen.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Hans GERST (c. 1420 - 1491) was a renowned brewer and tavern owner in the city of Nuremberg. His establishment, known as the "GERST Brauhaus," was a popular gathering place and played a significant role in the city's social and cultural life.

Another notable bearer of the name was Johann GERST (1570 - 1639), a Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Marburg. He was a prolific writer and published several works on theology and philosophy.

During the 17th century, the GERST name was found in various regions of Germany, including Saxony, Bavaria, and the Rhineland. In 1648, a man named Christoph GERST was recorded as a landowner in the village of Oberramstadt in Hesse.

In the 18th century, Johann Friedrich GERST (1717 - 1791) was a respected philosopher and educator from Saxony. He served as a professor at the University of Leipzig and wrote several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.

Over the centuries, the GERST surname has been associated with various occupations, including brewers, farmers, merchants, and scholars. While the name has retained its connection to the barley trade and brewing industry in some instances, it has also branched out into other fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gerst

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

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

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

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