Best Family History

Best Surname Meaning

English and northern Irish: nickname from Middle English best(e) (Old English betst) ‘best finest (person)’. English northern Irish and French: nickname from Middle English best(e) Old French beste ‘beast animal’ (especially those used for food or work) applied either as a metonymic occupational name for someone who looked after beasts such as a herdsman or as a nickname for someone thought to resemble an animal.

Compare English Bester. English: from a Middle English adverbial expression of the Best, but the meaning is unknown.

German: from a short form of the personal name Sebastian.

Dutch (also De Best): nickname for ‘the best’ as a superlative for good, prime, senior or possibly indicating a family relationship (someone from a senior generation).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Bast, Belt, Beck, Beste, Bean, Bess, West, Test, Bost, Bolt

506K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
72K	Military Records
37K	Immigration Records
342K	Census and Voter Lists
925K	Member Trees

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Best family from?

You can see how Best families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Best family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Best families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 580 Best families living in Ontario. This was about 58% of all the recorded Best's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Best families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Best surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Best

What did your Best ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Best. 42% of Best men worked as a Farmer and 20% of Best women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Best were Carpenter and Student.

View Census Data for Best

Data not to scale

We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Farmer

42%

Labourer

11%

Laborer

Carpenter

Housekeeper

20%

Teacher

14%

Stenographer

12%

Student

What Best family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 342K census records available for the last name Best. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Best census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Best

Passenger List

There are 37K immigration records available for the last name Best. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Best immigration records

Military Records

There are 72K military records available for the last name Best. For the veterans among your Best ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Best military records

You've only scratched the surface of Best family history

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What is the average Best lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Best life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Best in 1942 was 36, and 74 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Best family tree

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Best Surname Meaning

Compare English Bester. English: from a Middle English adverbial expression of the Best, but the meaning is unknown.

German: from a short form of the personal name Sebastian.

Dutch (also De Best): nickname for ‘the best’ as a superlative for good, prime, senior or possibly indicating a family relationship (someone from a senior generation).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Where is the Best family from?

What did your Best ancestors do for a living?

Data not to scale

We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Farmer

42%

Labourer

11%

Laborer

Carpenter

Housekeeper

20%

Teacher

14%

Stenographer

12%

Student

What Best family records will you find?

What is the average Best lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Best life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Best in 1942 was 36, and 74 in 2004.

Best Family History

Best Surname Meaning

1 million record(s) for Best

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Best family from?

What did your Best ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1921

Top Female Occupations In 1921

What Best family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Best family history

What is the average Best lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Best family tree

Search for another surname

Best Surname Meaning

1 million record(s) for Best

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Best family from?

What did your Best ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1921

Top Female Occupations In 1921

What Best family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Best family history

What is the average Best lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Best family tree

Search for another surname