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

Hoist, 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 Hoist surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Hoist in America

Hoist is the 93427th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hoist surname appeared 182 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Hoist.

The history of the last name Hoist

The surname Hoist has its origins in the country of England, dating back to the medieval period. It is primarily associated with regions in East Anglia and Yorkshire. The name is derived from the Middle English and Old Norse word "háusti" or "háist," which means "harvest" or "autumn." This suggests that the name was likely occupational, referring to someone who worked during the harvest season or was prominent in agricultural activities.

One of the earliest mentions of the surname Hoist is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, wherein it appears in various forms, including "Hoest" and "Hoyst." These early records often documented land ownership and significant contributors to the agricultural yields of the time. Over the centuries, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations due to regional dialects and the phonetic transcription typical of medieval and Renaissance England.

Historical records from the 13th century include references to a Ralph Hoyst, a prominent landowner in Yorkshire, who was documented in the Pipe Rolls of 1221. Later, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention Thomas Hoest in Suffolk, indicating that the name had spread across various counties by this time. These early mentions were mainly in the context of tenancy and land management, reflecting the agrarian roots of the name.

One notable individual with the surname was Sir John Hoist, born in 1412 and died in 1486, who served as a knight during the Wars of the Roses, aligning himself with the House of York. His service and loyalty to the crown were documented in several battle records, and his name is found in the chronicles of the period.

Another significant figure was Geoffrey Hoyst, a merchant from Norfolk, who in 1564 was one of the founders of a local guild that dealt in grain and other agricultural products. His merchant activities were recorded in city charters and economic records of the Elizabethan era.

The surname also appears in ecclesiastical records, such as those of William Hoyston, a parson in Lincolnshire in 1623 whose contributions to parish life were documented in the church registers. These records highlight the diverse roles individuals with this surname played within their communities.

In the 18th century, Mary Hoist, born in 1702 and deceased in 1775, became a noted philanthropist in Kent. Her charitable activities, particularly in support of the local farming community, were well-documented in local histories and continue to be celebrated today with a commemorative plaque in her honor.

Throughout history, the name Hoist is marked by its associations with agriculture, land management, and community involvement. Its etymology reflects the changing linguistic landscape of medieval England, while its historical bearers highlight the surname's integration into various facets of English social and economic life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hoist

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hoist 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!