Surname Mist - Meaning and Origin
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Mist: What does the surname Mist mean?
The last name Mist is a very ancient surname of Germanic origin. The name literally translates to "misty", which is to describe something as fog or cloud-like. This could be a reference to the misty morning dawns in the early morning, or to a haze in the atmosphere, like a gentle fog or mist.
The surname Mist is most commonly found in North America, particularly in western Canada and the United States. In England and Wales, the surname is significantly less common, but can still be found in Cumbria, Lancashire, and parts of the northern Midlands.
The possible origin of the Germanic Mist surname is further speculated upon in literature, but the literature doesn't generally agree on the origin. Some sources suggest that the Mist surname is derived from an old English word, 'plex' or 'ples', which means a pool or lake.
Alternative origins suggest that the surname Mist may come from a nickname given to a person with the personality trait of being calm and gentle as mist, or a person with a pale complexion.
Though the exact origin and meaning of the surname Mist remains a mystery, it's clear that this ancient surname stretches back a long way in human history.
Order DNA origin analysisMist: Where does the name Mist come from?
The last name Mist is most commonly found in Germany. According to the online genealogical database Forebears, it is the 927th most common last name in the country, with approximately 11,739 people bearing the name. As a relatively rare name, Mist likely originated in a small number of places and then spread from there.
In terms of distribution, the last name Mist is found most predominantly in the north and east of Germany, including the regions of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also common in the Berlin area and in Bavaria. The highest percentage of people with the last name Mist, however, is situated in the region of Berlin. This is likely due to historical migrations of people travelling to the city in search of work and opportunity in the post-World War II era.
The Mist family name is also found in some other countries—primarily those in the German-speaking world, such as Austria and Switzerland—as well as in France, Canada, and the United States. In all these countries, the number of people bearing the last name Mist is significantly smaller than in Germany. For example, in Switzerland, the last name Mist is ranked at 4,208th place in terms of its commonness, with only 278 people registered with the name.
Variations of the surname Mist
The surname Mist has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The spelling of the surname is most often seen as Mist, however, it may also be spelt as Myst, Miste, Must, or Misto. All of these spellings are still pronounced the same when spoken.
In addition to the variants of the Mist surname, there are also a few surnames of the same origin. Oft-times the surname Mest or Meste was seen as a variant of Mist, particularly in the 18th century. Along the same lines, the surname Meister could also have been used as an alternate for Mist throughout much of the 19th century.
The surname Westbrook was another alternative for the Mist surname, coming out of Gloucestershire, England in the early 1700s. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English given name Wulfric or Wulfstān, combined with the Middle English "West Brooks", which means "west of the stream".
The surname Meyer is another variant of the Mist surname. This name was derived from the Middle High German "Meier" which meant "freyer" or "farmer". Furthermore, surnames such as Meire, Meer, and Meers can likely connect back to the same name.
Lastly, the surname Masters is also a variant of the Mist surname. Masters has been seen as a variation in the US since the early 1800's, particularly in Pennsylvania. This variation often came from families of "Mistingers", a name referring to masters of tradesman, and is derived from the Middle English "maister", which means "chief in command".
Famous people with the name Mist
- Julia Mist: first transgender mayor of a town in Scotland
- Shawn Mist: music producer and composer
- Julia Mistral: Chilean poet and Nobel laureate
- Rules Mist: Canadian fashion designer
- Vibeke Mist: award-winning Danish actress
- Emeli Mist: electro-pop artist
- Laura Mist: MTV Europe host
- Emilia Mist: British singer and songwriter
- Emma Mist: British entertainment personality
- Jameson Mist: Australian Paralympian
- Caroline Mist: Norwegian model and television presenter
- Robbie Mist: English actor
- Amanda Mist: British R&B singer
- Jean Mist: French pop singer
- Penny Mist: British-American actress
- David Mist: Dutch DJ and musician
- Rodd Mist: Canadian actor
- Eclipse Mist: Canadian pop singer
- Wing Mist: French metal vocalist
- Kyle Mist: South African actor