Show ContentsRost History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rost family

The surname Rost was first found in Belgium, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in Brabant, an ancient duchy from 1190 onward. Within the province Brussels and Louvain are the major cities and the smaller Clabecq, Tubize and Wavre towns. Other towns include Vilvorde, Tirlemont and Hal. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into a most influential family.

Early History of the Rost family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rost research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1688, 1727, 1738 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Rost History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rost Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rost, Rosst, Rostt, Roste, Rostte, Rosste, Rostes, Rosttes and many more.

Early Notables of the Rost family

The surname was distinguished by many in this era including

  • Johann Leonhard Rost (1688-1727), a German astronomer and author from Nuremberg, eponym of the Rost lunar crater

Rost Ranking

In the United States, the name Rost is the 8,437th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Rost migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rost Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Andreas Rost, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 [2]
  • Balthaser Rost, who settled in Philadelphia in 1754
  • Uulrich Rost, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 [2]
  • Erhard Rost, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1761 [2]
  • Mathias Rost, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rost Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Emile Rost, who landed in Louisiana in 1833 [2]
  • George Rost, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 [2]
  • Mr. Eduard Rost, (Rast), aged 37, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1847 aboard the ship "Chas. N. Cooper"
  • Gottlieb Rost, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1849 [2]
  • Gottfried Rost, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1850 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Rost migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rost Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Conrad Rost, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1751

Contemporary Notables of the name Rost (post 1700) +

  • Markus Rost, German mathematician who works at the intersection of topology and algebra who developed the Rost invariant, fellow of the American Mathematical Society
  • Clayton O. Rost, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1960 [3]
  • Klaus Rost (1940-2023), German lightweight wrestler who competed in freestyle wrestling at the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympics and won a silver medal in 1964
  • Peter Rost (1951-1980), German gold medalist Team handball player at the 1980 Olympics
  • Peter Rost M.D. (b. 1959), Swedish former vice president at the pharmaceutical company Pfizer
  • Timo Rost (b. 1978), German former footballer
  • Frank Rost (b. 1973), retired German footballer

Bismarck
  • Richard Rost (1922-1941), German Matrose II who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [4]
  • Helmut Rost (1918-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [4]
  • Hans Rost (1916-1941), German Obermaschinenmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [4]


  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. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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