Vest History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
Germany

Early Origins of the Vest family

The surname Vest was first found in Holland, 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 Limburg, the smallest, southernmost province of the Netherlands. The capital of the province is Mastricht, noted for its contribution to the modern treaty for the E.E.C. Other notable towns are Crefeld and Breda and Nijmwegan. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. Originally the name was Weesper but by the 15th century had emerged as Vesper and Vest. The family name does not have religious connotations.

Early History of the Vest family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vest research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Vest History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vest Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Vesper, Weesper, Wesper, Vest, Vester and others.

Early Notables of the Vest family

More information is included under the topic Early Vest Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vest Ranking

In the United States, the name Vest is the 2,776^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1

Vest migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Vest Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

H. N. Vest, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1821
J. Vest, who settled in San Francisco in 1851
J Vest, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
Heinrich Vest, who sailed to America in 1855
Heinr Vest, who landed in America in 1855 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Vest (post 1700) +

George Southall Vest (b. 1918), former United States diplomat and State Department official
Dorothy Crowe Vest (b. 1919), American world class female tennis player, eponym of Jackson's Dorothy Vest Tennis Center
Charles "Chuck" Marstiller Vest (1941-2013), American educator and engineer, President of MIT (1990 to 2004)
George Graham Vest (1830-1904), American politician, Missouri Congressman, a Confederate Congressman during the Civil War and US Senator
David Carl Quentin Vest, American columnist, poet and musician
Jim Vest (b. 1941), American singer, songwriter and music producer known for the being the front man of "Nashville Cats" 1969-1985, he plays derby steel guitar, founder of Vest Music Group
John P. Vest, American politician, Mayor of Salem, North Carolina, 1867-68, 1873-74; Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Forsyth County, 1868-69 3
George Graham Vest (1830-1904), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives, 1860; Senator from Missouri in the Confederate Congress, 1865; U.S. Senator from Missouri, 1879-1903 3
Edward C. Vest, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Cabell County, 1940 3
David D. Vest, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 39th District, 1986 3
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html