NameCensus.

UK surname

Feist

A surname of German origin referring to a pugnacious or high-spirited person.

In the 1881 census there were 178 people recorded with the Feist surname, ranking it #13,840 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 323, ranked #13,997, down from #13,840 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Horsham, Sullington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Whisky Isles and Swale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Feist is 374 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.5%.

1881 census count

178

Ranked #13,840

Modern count

323

2016, ranked #13,997

Peak year

1998

374 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Feist had 178 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,840 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 323 in 2016, ranked #13,997.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 313 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Feist surname distribution map

The map shows where the Feist surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Feist surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Feist over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 126 #14,626
1861 historical 93 #22,009
1881 historical 178 #13,840
1891 historical 153 #18,078
1901 historical 296 #11,749
1911 historical 313 #11,108
1997 modern 351 #12,145
1998 modern 374 #11,963
1999 modern 362 #12,316
2000 modern 356 #12,408
2001 modern 348 #12,419
2002 modern 347 #12,699
2003 modern 336 #12,786
2004 modern 337 #12,818
2005 modern 317 #13,323
2006 modern 335 #12,883
2007 modern 331 #13,117
2008 modern 334 #13,142
2009 modern 343 #13,168
2010 modern 341 #13,477
2011 modern 341 #13,341
2012 modern 327 #13,654
2013 modern 331 #13,748
2014 modern 342 #13,498
2015 modern 325 #13,927
2016 modern 323 #13,997

Geography

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Where Feists are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Horsham, Sullington and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Whisky Isles, Swale, Fenland and Eastbourne. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Horsham, Sullington Sussex
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 010 South Hams
2 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
3 Swale 004 Swale
4 Fenland 007 Fenland
5 Eastbourne 009 Eastbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Feist

These lists show first names that appear often with the Feist surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Feist

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Feist, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Feist surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Feist household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Feist is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Feist is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Feist falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Feist is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Feist, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Feist

The surname Feist originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "veist," which means "fat" or "plump." This suggests that the name was initially a descriptive nickname given to someone of a stout or robust build.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Feist surname can be found in the town records of Augsburg, Germany, from the year 1525. The entry refers to a certain "Hans Feist," indicating that the name was already in use at that time.

In the 17th century, the Feist name appeared in various German church records and tax registers. For instance, a "Peter Feist" was listed as a landowner in the village of Rottenburg in 1632, while a "Johann Feist" was recorded as a resident of the city of Nürnberg in 1671.

The name Feist also has connections to several place names in Germany. The town of Feistenhausen, located in the state of Bavaria, is believed to be derived from the same root word as the surname. Additionally, the village of Feistritzsattel in Austria may also have a linguistic link to the name.

Notable individuals with the Feist surname include:

1. Johann Feist (1535-1592), a German Protestant theologian and writer. 2. Anselm Feist (1701-1778), a German painter and engraver from Augsburg. 3. Kaspar Feist (1768-1846), a German writer and teacher from Saxony. 4. Wilhelm Feist (1828-1889), a German painter and illustrator from Berlin. 5. Siegmund Feist (1865-1943), a German philologist and linguist known for his work on Indo-European languages.

While the Feist surname is most commonly associated with Germany, it has also been found in other parts of Europe, particularly in areas with historical German settlements or influence. However, the name's origins and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the heart of Germany, where it emerged as a descriptive nickname several centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Feist families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Feist surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 82 Feists recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.01x.

County Total Index
Sussex 82 28.01x
Middlesex 38 2.19x
Surrey 35 4.14x
Cambridgeshire 6 5.46x
Hampshire 3 0.84x
Lancashire 3 0.15x
Hertfordshire 2 1.67x
Leicestershire 2 1.04x
Northamptonshire 2 1.22x
Berkshire 1 0.77x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.95x
Kent 1 0.17x
Suffolk 1 0.47x
Wiltshire 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 18 Feists recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.48x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 18 30.48x
Lower Beeding 12 1538.46x
Kirdford 9 882.35x
Sutton 9 147.06x
Clapham 8 36.85x
Croydon 8 17.04x
Horsham 8 140.60x
Hastings St Mary In The 6 96.15x
Westminster St John 6 28.38x
Bethnal Green London 5 6.63x
Hackney London 5 5.14x
Hastings All Sts 5 181.16x
Hastings Holy Trinity 5 231.48x
Hove 4 31.15x
Kensington London 4 4.14x
Slaugham 4 421.05x
Egham 3 57.80x
Fordham 3 422.54x
Hastings St Clement 3 109.09x
Horley 3 211.27x
Paddington London 3 4.70x
St Clement Danes London 3 83.57x
St George Hanover Square 3 9.81x
Burbage 2 200.00x
Chelsea London 2 3.82x
Ifield 2 163.93x
Lewes St Ann 2 200.00x
Liverpool 2 1.60x
Mickleham 2 416.67x
Mile End Old Town London 2 5.41x
Newmarket All Sts 2 246.91x
Northampton All Sts 2 36.10x
Shanklin 2 188.68x
Watford 2 21.55x
Aldershot 1 8.39x
Eastbourne 1 7.42x
Exning 1 93.46x
Islington London 1 0.59x
Iver 1 74.07x
Manchester 1 1.08x
Nuthurst 1 208.33x
Oving 1 101.01x
Putney 1 12.64x
Reigate Borough 1 51.28x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 27.93x
St George In East London 1 6.12x
St Luke London 1 3.59x
St Marylebone London 1 1.08x
Sutton At Hone 1 81.30x
Swaffham Prior 1 208.33x
Warminster 1 29.76x
Wilmington 1 666.67x
Winkfield 1 46.30x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Feist surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 12
Ellen 6
Sarah 6
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Florence 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Harriet 3
Rebecca 3
Annie 2
Arabella 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Louise 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Catherine 1
Dephine 1
E.A. 1
Eddie 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizh. 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Katie 1
Louisa 1
Marguerite 1
Philis 1
Rose 1
Rosetta 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Feist surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 9
Frederick 7
John 6
William 6
Charles 5
Henry 4
Albert 3
George 3
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Philip 2
Samuel 2
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
C. 1
Carl 1
Cecil 1
David 1
Eastlin 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Geore 1
Gustave 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Jabez 1
Lorenz 1
Luke 1
Lydston 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Thos.M. 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1
Wilhelm 1

FAQ

Feist surname: questions and answers

How common was the Feist surname in 1881?

In 1881, 178 people were recorded with the Feist surname. That placed it at #13,840 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Feist surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 323 in 2016. That gives Feist a modern rank of #13,997.

What does the Feist surname mean?

A surname of German origin referring to a pugnacious or high-spirited person.

What does the Feist map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Feist bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.