Nost last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Nost

A surname of Norwegian origin, derived from the word "nost" meaning headland or promontory.

Nost, 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 Nost surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Nost in America

Nost is the 146011th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nost surname appeared 104 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 Nost.

The history of the last name Nost

The surname Nost likely has its origins in the Germanic-speaking regions of Europe, specifically pointing toward regions such as Germany or Scandinavia. It is believed to have been derived from the Old Norse word "nøsta," which means 'to bind' or 'to knot.' This surname may have originally referred to a person involved in activities such as knitting or weaving, occupations that were common in these regions during the medieval period.

Early records indicate that the surname Nost, or in some cases Nosst, appeared in medieval manuscripts and local church records. One of the earliest appearances is found in a Germanic tax record from the 14th century, which lists a Hans Nost as a landowner in what is now modern-day Bavaria.

During the 16th century, the name Nost began appearing more frequently. A notable historical figure is Wilhelm Nost, born in 1542 and died in 1598. He was a well-respected blacksmith in a small town in the region that is currently northern Germany. His expertise in metalwork was highly regarded, earning him a notable reputation.

Another important individual bearing the surname Nost is Margaretha Nost, who lived from 1621 to 1697. She was known for her significant contributions to the textile industry in what is now Sweden. Margaretha's work in managing one of the largest textile workshops of her time made her a prominent figure in the industry.

The surname also made its way into England in the late 17th century. One of the early settlers in England with this surname was Martin Nost, who migrated from Germany to England around 1685. Martin's descendants settled in various parts of England, contributing to the spread of the surname within the country.

In the early 18th century, Richard Nost, born in 1702 and died in 1771, became a notable figure through his work in cabinetry and furniture making. His creations were highly sought after by the English aristocracy, and pieces of his work still exist in some antique collections today.

Another notable individual with the surname is Anna Nost, who was born in 1831 and played a key role in her community in Denmark as a midwife. She was known for her dedication to the well-being of mothers and their children, earning her widespread respect and recognition.

Overall, the surname Nost has historical roots that spread across various regions in Europe, each contributing to its distinguished lineage through different fields of craftsmanship and service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nost

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

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 Nost was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.31% 96
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nost, 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!

"Nost last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 1, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/nost-surname-popularity/.

"Nost last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/nost-surname-popularity/. Accessed 1 July, 2025

Nost last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/nost-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.