Contents [hide]

Guest History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Guest History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Wales
Ireland

The surname Guest was originally formed in the western region of Britain in the country of Wales. This name began as a nickname for a guest or stranger. The surname Guest is derived from the Old English word "gest," which in turn comes from the Old Norse Word "gestr," which means "guest" or "stranger."

Early Origins of the Guest family

The surname Guest was first found in Worcestershire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Guest family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Guest research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1248, 1273, 1604, 1722, 1762, 1763, 1785, 1835, 1846, 1852 and 1914 are included under the topic Early Guest History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Guest Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. Recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Guest name over the years has been spelled Guest, Guests, Jeste and others.

Early Notables of the Guest family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

John Guest (1722-1785), a brewer, farmer and coal merchant in Broseley, Shropshire, co-founder of the Plymouth Ironworks in 1763
Sir Josiah John Guest, 1st Baronet, (1785-1852), Welsh engineer and entrepreneur
Jane Mary Guest (c.1762-1846), English composer and pianist

Guest Ranking

In the United States, the name Guest is the 3,312^nd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Guest is ranked the 598^th most popular surname with an estimated 10,962 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Guest family to Ireland

Some of the Guest family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Guest migration to the United States +

The Welsh began to emigrate to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s in search of land, work, and freedom. Those that arrived helped shape the industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. The records regarding immigration and passenger show a number of people bearing the name Guest:

Guest Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Guest, who arrived in Maryland in 1637 3
Walter Guest, who arrived in Maryland in 1640 3
Geo Guest, who arrived in Virginia in 1647 3
George Guest, who purchased landed in Virginia in 1647
Anthony Guest made the voyage to Virgnia in 1663
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Guest Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas R Guest, aged 21, who landed in New York in 1812 3
John Guest, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 3
Joseph Guest, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 3

Guest migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Guest Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Guest, British convict who was convicted in Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
Mr. Samuel Guest, English convict who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 13th March 1828, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Joseph Guest, English convict from Gloucester, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. William Guest, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. William Henry Guest, English coachman who was convicted in Surrey, England for 15 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 25th June 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Guest 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:

Guest Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Lucy Guest, (b. 1830), aged 28, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 9
Miss Guest, American settler travelling from Honolulu aboard the ship "Nevada" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 30th June 1871 9
John Guest, aged 25, a shoemaker, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ocean Mail" in 1875
Emma Guest, aged 22, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ocean Mail" in 1875
William Guest, aged 42, a gas stoker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ionic" in 1884
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Guest (post 1700) +

Ann Hutchinson Guest MBE (1918-2022), American world authority on dance notation and movement analysis, awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for Dance Studies in 1998
William Franklin Guest (1941-2015), American R&B/soul singer, best known for his work with Gladys Knight & the Pips; he was Gladys Knight's cousin
Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959), American (English born) prolific poet
Judith Guest (b. 1936), American author, best known for her book, "Ordinary People"
Jim Guest (b. 1940), American aerospace engineer and politician; state representative
Barbara Guest (1920-2006), American poet and critic
James A. Guest, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Senator from Vermont, 1982 10
George Guest (b. 1866), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 1904, 1912 (alternate) 10
Elizabeth Polk Guest (1910-1990), American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1944, 1948 10
Cassie L. Guest, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 4th District, 1950, 1952 10
... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Guest family +

HMS Halsted

Mr. Peter Edward Guest (b. 1926), British Royal Navy ordinary seaman from Essex, England was stationed aboard the "HMS Halsted" when it was struck by torpedo by Jaguar and Mowe of the Cherbourg coast on 11th June 1944, he did not survive

HMS Hood

Mr. Alan Guest (b. 1923), English Band Boy serving for the Royal Marine from Bilston, Staffordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 11

RMS Titanic

Mr. Robert Guest (d. 1912), aged 32, English Third Class passenger from London who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 12

The Guest Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ferro non gladio
Motto Translation: By iron, not by the sword.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emily
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html