NameCensus.

UK surname

Ost

A surname referring to someone from the east or living in the east.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Ost surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 176, ranked #21,298, down from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Minster, Newington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, East Riding of Yorkshire and Stockport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ost is 201 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.3%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

1998

201 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ost had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 142 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Ost surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ost surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ost 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 47 #24,810
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1997 modern 192 #18,103
1998 modern 201 #18,047
1999 modern 199 #18,293
2000 modern 199 #18,278
2001 modern 190 #18,520
2002 modern 199 #18,350
2003 modern 188 #18,810
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 189 #18,807
2006 modern 182 #19,402
2007 modern 181 #19,680
2008 modern 179 #20,015
2009 modern 190 #19,656
2010 modern 195 #19,762
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 189 #19,949
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 183 #20,880
2015 modern 180 #20,997
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Osts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Minster, Newington, London parishes, Queenborough and Sittingbourne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, East Riding of Yorkshire, Stockport and Swansea. 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 Minster Kent
2 Newington Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Queenborough Kent
5 Sittingbourne Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 035 Barnet
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 006 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Barnet 037 Barnet
4 Stockport 042 Stockport
5 Swansea 020 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ost

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ost

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ost, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Ost surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Ost household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ost is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ost is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ost falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ost 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 Ost, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ost

The surname "Ost" is of German origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "ost," which means "east," suggesting that the name was originally given to someone who lived in the eastern part of a particular region or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae," a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 12th century. In this manuscript, a person named "Henricus Ost" is mentioned as a witness to a legal transaction.

During the 13th century, the name "Ost" appeared in various records across German-speaking regions, often associated with place names or locations. For example, in the town of Osterode in Lower Saxony, there was a family named "Ost von Osterode," indicating their connection to the eastern part of the town.

Notable individuals with the surname "Ost" include Johann Ost (1504-1572), a German Protestant theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another prominent figure was Hans Ost (1610-1688), a German composer and organist known for his contributions to the development of baroque music.

In the 19th century, Carl Ost (1825-1901) was a renowned German architect who designed several iconic buildings in Berlin, including the Reichstag building. Additionally, Friedrich Ost (1860-1923) was a German politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice in Prussia from 1917 to 1919.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname "Ost" in modern times was Hjalmar Ost (1891-1971), a Swedish actor and film director who gained international recognition for his work in the early 20th century. He is considered a pioneer of Swedish cinema and directed several critically acclaimed films.

Throughout its history, the surname "Ost" has been subject to various spellings and regional variations, such as "Osten," "Ostendorf," and "Ostermann," reflecting the diverse cultural and linguistic influences within German-speaking regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ost families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ost 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. Kent leads with 51 Osts recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.96x.

County Total Index
Kent 51 15.96x
Middlesex 14 1.50x
Essex 7 3.79x
Lancashire 7 0.63x
Surrey 6 1.32x
Hampshire 4 2.08x
Suffolk 4 3.51x
Northumberland 3 2.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Queenborough in Kent leads with 18 Osts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5625.00x.

Place Total Index
Queenborough 18 5625.00x
Milton In Milton 15 1102.94x
Minster In Sheppey 8 151.23x
Sittingbourne 6 238.10x
Levenshulme 5 438.60x
Southwark St John 5 174.83x
Braintree 4 240.96x
Chelsea London 4 14.18x
Poplar London 4 22.64x
Hammersmith London 3 13.01x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 41.55x
Ipswich St Nicholas 2 317.46x
Leigh 2 312.50x
Middleton In Oldham 2 60.06x
Portsea 2 5.32x
Sudbury St Gregory 2 219.78x
Christchurch 1 24.04x
Corringham 1 714.29x
Erith 1 31.75x
Maidstone 1 10.50x
Portsmouth 1 22.62x
St Dunstan In West 1 500.00x
Streatham 1 14.39x
Westminster St James 1 10.38x
Whitechapel London 1 10.83x
Woolwich 1 8.47x
Wrotham 1 94.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Angelica 1
Blanch 1
Cecille 1
Charity 1
Eliza 1
Emmeline 1
Eveline 1
Florence 1
Fordy 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Nelly 1
Rhoda 1
Ruth 1
Stella 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
James 9
Thomas 5
Charles 3
Edward 3
George 3
Alfred 2
John 2
Samuel 2
Arthur 1
Edgar 1
Emil 1
Frederick 1
Gustav 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Marshall 1
Scott 1
Sidney 1
Sidny 1

FAQ

Ost surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ost surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Ost surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ost surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Ost a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Ost surname mean?

A surname referring to someone from the east or living in the east.

What does the Ost map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ost 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.