Surname Mest - Meaning and Origin
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Mest: What does the surname Mest mean?
The last name Mest is of French origin and is derived from the Old French term "mestre," meaning "master." It was a common term for officials, including those in the military and government, as well as for skilled craftsmen and teachers. As a surname, Mest is often found in the southern regions of France.
Mest is also a more recently popularized surname, given to immigrants who came to the United States from the islands of the Caribbean. In particular, Haitian immigrants brought this particular last name to this new land, with many having it as a part of their heritage.
The literal definition of "Mest" is one who is master of his craft. As such, it could be used to describe someone who has achieved great success in their respective field, and generally of higher social class. It also could reflect someone with great mental strength, leading with guidance and wisdom.
In modern times, the last name Mest has spread to many parts of the world, and is no longer limited to its French origin. However, regardless of its place of origin, this particular last name carries the essence of wisdom and achievement.
Order DNA origin analysisMest: Where does the name Mest come from?
The Mest surname is most common today in Portugal and Spain. The first recorded use of the family name Mest dates back to 11th-century Spain, during the period of Muslim rule. The Mest surname is derived from the Spanish word for "land," and it is likely that the initial bearer of the name held land in the region. The Mest family name was first found in Castile, where they held a family seat from the 11th century, where they were a major noble family. Later in the 13th and 14th centuries, members of the Mest family left Spain and moved to Italy and France, and by the 19th century, some members of the Mest family had moved to the United States and spread the name across the continent. Today, the Mest surname is more common in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, especially Mexico, where it is the 10th most common surname.
Variations of the surname Mest
The surname Mest is an anglicized form of the Old French surname Mestres or Mestre, which originated in Picardy, France. It is an occupational name derived from the Latin mister or maister which meant "master." It is also a variant of the surname Maistre, which evolved from the Latin word magister, meaning "master" or "teacher."
The variants of Mest range from Maistre to Mast,Mastes, Maistes, Mastres, Mastrie, Maistrie, Mesfter, Maistre, Mester, Messer, Messier, Masseur, Mestres, Mestrie, Mastrieux, and Mestrion.
In some cases, the Mest surname is spelled with an "i" instead of a "y" interchangeably, such as Maister, Mastre, Mester, and Mesiter.
The surnames Mest, Maister, Mastre, Mester, Mesiter, Messeur, Mester, Mesiter, and Messier are all considered to be related to the Mest surname, and they can be found throughout Europe in countries like France, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
In Poland, the surname Mest is spelled Mecz and is derived from the Middle High German word mezes, meaning master craftsman.
Other variants of the Mest surname include Mestee, Masterio, Masterman, and Mestinger. The Italian variant is written as Maestri, while in Switzerland, the spelling is Maestre. In Spain the surname is spelled Maestres, while in Portugal, it is spelled Maestros.
The double “s” and the “x” found in Mastres and Mastrieux are both common variants, with the latter being found in Belgium.
Famous people with the name Mest
- Joey Mest, American professional wrestler.
- Johnny Mest, American professional soccer player.
- Gabby Mest, American singer and songwriter.
- Ryan Mest, American professional ice hockey player.
- Michael Mest, American actor, director, and writer.
- Gregor Mest, American marathon runner and ultramarathoner.
- Tony Mest, American singer and musician.
- Chris Mest, American professional basketball player.
- Jason Mest, American professional snowboarder.
- Marley Mest, American actress.