Show ContentsHolst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name is a shortened form of the Middle Low German word "holtsate," meaning "one who dwells in the woods." Holstein, was the name of a German region as well as of several villages, and in turn, some bearers of this name no doubt derived their name from the place names.

Early Origins of the Holst family

The surname Holst was first found in Germany, where the name Holst came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as numerous branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some of which were located in other countries. Through the acquisition of these estates as well as their important contributions to society, the family successfully elevated their social status.

Early History of the Holst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holst research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Holst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Holst Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Holst, Holste, Holsten, Holster, Holstein and many more.

Early Notables of the Holst family

Notables of the time with the name Holst included

  • the Holste family of Schwarzbourg

Holst Ranking

In the United States, the name Holst is the 7,149th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]


United States Holst migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Holst Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Barent Holst, who settled in New Netherland in 1663
  • Barent Holst, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1663 [2]
  • Bernhard Holst, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1663 [2]
  • Bernhard Holst, who settled in America in 1663
  • Lowrens Holst, who settled in New York in 1690
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Holst Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • C. August Holst, who arrived in New York, NY in 1821
  • C. A. Holst, who settled in Philadelphia in 1827
  • C. F. Holst, who settled in New York in 1832
  • Marias Holst, who landed in New York in 1840 [2]
  • Mr. J. A. Holst, aged 27, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1848 aboard the ship "Colonist"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Holst Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Frederick Holst, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1920 [2]

New Zealand Holst migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Holst Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Ludwic Holst, (b. 1832), aged 24, British carpenter travelling from London aboard the ship "Isabella Hercus" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th January 1856 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Holst (post 1700) +

  • Spencer Holst (1926-2001), American writer and storyteller
  • William G. Holst, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 1st District, 1998, 2000 [4]
  • Kevin Holst, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 2008 [4]
  • John T. Holst, American politician, Member of South Dakota State Senate 23rd District, 1937-38 [4]
  • John Holst, American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 16th District, 1919 [4]
  • C. M. Holst, American politician, Delegate to Iowa convention to ratify 21st amendment from Jones County, 1933 [4]
  • Erich von Holst (1908-1962), German behavioral physiologist
  • Johan Hubner Von Holst (1881-1945), Swedish winner of two gold, two sliver, and one bronze Olympic medals for shooting at the 1908 and 1912 games
  • Hanne-Vibeke Holst (b. 1959), well known and popular Danish columnist, tv-journalist and best-selling fiction writer
  • Lars Holst Ph.D., Professor of Mathematical statistics at Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Flight TWA 800
  • Mr. Eric   Holst (1964-1996), from Manorville, New York, USA, American dentist flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; he died in the crash [5]


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm


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