UK surname
A surname derived from an old French word meaning "woods" or "forest dweller".
In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Guist surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #32,581 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wallop, Over, St Helen and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Guist is 146 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.5%.
1881 census count
8
Ranked #32,581
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1891
146 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Guist surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Guist surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 16 | #30,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 116 | #18,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 8 | #32,581 |
| 1891 | historical | 146 | #18,664 |
| 1901 | historical | 11 | #32,907 |
| 1911 | historical | 11 | #32,463 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wallop, Over, St Helen, Dudley, Doncaster and Hartlebury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wallop, Over | Hampshire |
| 2 | St Helen | Hampshire |
| 3 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Doncaster | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Hartlebury | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Guist surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Guist, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Guist surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Guist household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Guist is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Guist is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Guist, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GUIST is believed to have originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "gast," which means "guest" or "stranger." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who was a newcomer or traveler in a particular area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the GUIST surname can be found in the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum, a collection of medieval manuscripts from the region of Westphalia in Germany, dating back to the 12th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Gast," "Guste," and "Guiste," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and transcription common in that era.
During the 13th century, the GUIST surname began to spread beyond its origins in Germany. Records from this period show individuals bearing this name in regions such as the Netherlands and France. One notable figure was Johannes GUIST, a merchant and landowner from the city of Cologne, who lived from around 1220 to 1295.
In the 14th century, the GUIST surname emerged in England, potentially brought by immigrants or traders from the European continent. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a Thomas GUIST, one of the earliest documented instances of the name in England.
Another significant figure in the history of the GUIST surname was Hartmann GUIST, a German scholar and humanist who lived from 1490 to 1558. He was a renowned professor of law and rhetoric at the University of Freiburg and authored several influential works on legal and philosophical topics.
As the centuries progressed, the GUIST surname continued to spread across Europe and beyond. Notable individuals bearing this name include Johann Friedrich GUIST (1692-1765), a German composer and organist renowned for his church music; and Bartholomew GUIST (1805-1876), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Taunton from 1857 to 1868.
While the GUIST surname has its roots in Germany and the medieval period, it has since become dispersed across various countries and cultures, reflecting the migration patterns and historical movements of people over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Guist surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 3 Guists recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.03x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 3 | 7.03x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 2.30x |
| Durham | 1 | 3.84x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 5.82x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.14x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 96.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clapham in Surrey leads with 3 Guists recorded in 1881 and an index of 272.73x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clapham | 3 | 272.73x |
| Pannal | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Clifton | 1 | 114.94x |
| Framwellgate | 1 | 666.67x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 20.53x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 112.36x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Guist surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Guist surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Guist households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Color Sergt R M | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gardiner (Dom) | 1 |
| Gardiner Wife | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Guist surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Guist a modern rank of #39,061.
A surname derived from an old French word meaning "woods" or "forest dweller".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Guist bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.