Mast History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Mast is part of the ancient legacy of the early Norman inhabitants that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Mast was a Norman name used for a person who behaved in a masterful manner. This was also an occupational name for a person who was the master of his craft deriving from the Old French word maistre, and the Old English word maister.

"There are three places called 'Les Moutiers,' 'Monasteria,' in the department of Calvados in Normandy; but if he were a Breton, as seems probable, Moutiers near La Guerche may be the more likely place for him to have come from. Robert, however, was no doubt a near relation of 'Lisois de Monasteriis,' a brave knight in the Conqueror's army in the Northern campaign of 1069, who, when the river Aire had stopped their progress for three weeks, sought for a ford both above and below, and at last with great difficulty discovered one, by which he crossed over at the head of sixty bold men-at-arms, and though assailed by the enemy with great force stoutly held his ground." 1

Early Origins of the Mast family

The surname Mast was first found in Yorkshire where "Robert 'de Mosters' was a tenant of Earl Alan's in Yorkshire 1086, and also held Truswell in Nottinghamshire, part of the great Richmond Fee." 1

According to Thoroton, Truswell or Tireswell was held by seven generations of Robert's descendants. Lisiardus de Monasterio, and Gundra his sister, occur in the county 1194-99 (Rotuli Curiae Regis): and Robert, in 1279, held two fees " pro Warda Castri de Richmond." - Gale's Richmondshire.

Early History of the Mast family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mast research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1600, 1610, 1624, 1627, 1637, 1639, 1640, 1653, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1675, 1679, 1680, 1684, 1685, 1687, 1690, 1691, 1710, 1715 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Mast History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mast Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Master, Masters, Mosters, Measter, DeMaster and many more.

Early Notables of the Mast family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir Streynsham Master
Sir William Master (1600-1662) was an English politician, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1627
his son Thomas Master (1624-1680), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660
John Master (1637-c.1680), an English physician
William Master (1627-1684), an English divine and writer
Sir Edward Master(s) (1610-1691), an English politician, High Sheriff of Kent in 1639, Member of Parliament for Canterbury (1640-1653) and (1661-1679) and Giles Masters, 2nd Attorney General of the Do...
Thomas Master (1663-1710), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Cirencester (1685-1690)

Mast Ranking

In the United States, the name Mast is the 4,490^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2

Mast migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Mast name or one of its variants:

Mast Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Dorothy Mast, who arrived in Maryland in 1660 3

Mast Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Mast, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship "William and Sarah" 3
Jacob Mast, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 3
Johannes Mast, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 3
Christoph Mast, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 3
Moritz Mast, who arrived in America in 1778 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mast Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

August F Mast, who arrived in West Virginia in 1833 3
John Mast, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 3
John A Mast, who landed in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1846 3
Frederick Mast, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1846 3
Christian Mast, who arrived in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1846 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mast (post 1700) +

Yates Mast, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 23rd District, 1974 4
Sharon Mast, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Washington, 1996 (alternate), 2000, 2004, 2008; Member of Democratic National Committee from Washington, 2008 4
J. M. Mast, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Virginia, 1928 4
Frank Mast, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Armstrong County, 1891-96 4
D. P. Mast, American politician, Mayor of Winston, North Carolina, 1876, 1890-92; Resigned 1876 4
C. L. Mast, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1956 4

The Mast 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: Non minor est virtus quam quaerere parta tueri
Motto Translation: It is no less an achievement to keep possession than to acquire it.

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
"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, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html