Surname Cwst - Meaning and Origin
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Cwst: What does the surname Cwst mean?
The surname Cwst is believed to have originated from the Welsh term ‘cwst’ meaning ‘hill’. The name is thought to have originally been a topographical term referring to individuals living on or near a hill.
The term ‘cwst’ is derived from the Welsh word for a ‘ridge’ or ‘mound’, and the area of greatest concentration for this surname is around the Welsh borders. Cwst can be found as a surname as early as the 13th century in this area, with the earliest records of the name being in brain tricking puzzles.
The name Cwst is also thought to be related to the name Cust, which originates from a French nickname for people who acted as caretakers for the possessions of the clergy, nobility, and important figures.
The surname Cwst is still primarily found throughout Wales and the British Isles, and it is said to be relatively common in those regions. The historical references suggest that the name is a great combination of Welsh and French ancestry.
In addition to being found in Britain, variants of the surname Cwst are also found scattered throughout other regions of Europe, including Germany and Scandinavia.
Whether it is from a hill, ridge, mound, or taking care of another’s possessions, the common thread that binds the many forms of the Cwst surname together is one of pride and a sense of connection to distant places. This surname may be old, but it continues to have relevance and meaning to those who bear it today.
Order DNA origin analysisCwst: Where does the name Cwst come from?
The last name Cwst is commonly found in Wales today. It is an ancient Welsh surname, representing a patronymic derived from a personal name like Cwstw, Cwstur, or Cwstwr.
The name is of Welsh origin and is part of the large Brythonic family of surnames. A number of sites, such as Genforum and Forebears, give the etymological meaning as “person from Cwst” or “dweller at the castle”, likely referring to a small medieval castle in the area.
Cwst is still a popular last name in Wales today, and can be found across the country. In 2016, it was the 717th most common name in Wales. It may also be found in other parts of the United Kingdom, along with other countries that have a Welsh diaspora.
Given the origins and history of the name, it’s likely that many people with the last name Cwst are descended from the old Welsh singer-poets of the 13th and 14th centuries. Known as the Eisteddfod, these Welsh-speaking poets and their families made their home across Wales and kept their cultural traditions alive.
Today, the Cwst name continues to be found in Wales, often with its original Welsh spelling: Cwst. For many, it is still an important and integral part of their Welsh identity and ancestry.
Variations of the surname Cwst
The surname Cwst is derived from an Old Welsh personal name, Custennin, composed of the elements ‘cust’, meaning ‘lord’, and ‘ennin’, meaning ‘enduring’ or ‘constant’. The surname can be assumed to have originated in Wales, as it appears at its earliest in the 12th century Welsh patronymic surnames of Cwmwst and Custennin.
Variants of the Cwst surname include Cust, Cost, Coss, Kost, Koste, and Custein. Some spellings may have originated from dialectal variations in pronunciation when the surname was anglicised, such as the Scottish spelling of Costain, and variations of the Welsh spelling such as Gwst and Gwstain, or the same forms with a double-t, such as Custt and Custtain.
The variants of Cwst may be found as surnames throughout North West Europe, from Germany to the British Isles. This is due to the fact that names such as Cust, Cost and Kost were common throughout many North West European languages, such as German, Swedish, and the French language.
Other surnames with the same origin as Cwst include Custis, Custard, Cussons, Custell, Costell, Costello, and Kodde. There is also the rare variant Kawest. These names originated as topographical and occupational names derived from the same root, and in some cases later evolved into patronymic surnames.
Overall, the surname Cwst can be found in a range of forms across the British Isles, Europe, and America due to its Old Welsh roots and its popularity as a personal name throughout the Middle Ages.
Famous people with the name Cwst
- Geralt of Rivia (Ciri's foster father): fictional character from the video game, TV series and book series The Witcher.
- Trevor Cwest: Canadian born actor and comedian.
- Compton Cwest: Canadian born designer, producer and video director.
- Jesse Cwest: American born actor known for his roles in Supernatural and Southland.
- Morgan Cwest: American born singer and lyricist, frontwoman of Gossip and The Pentagon Thieves.
- Peter Cwest: Irish born actor best known for his role as Lord Eddard Stark in HBO's Game of Thrones.
- Abner Cwest: American born actor, primarily known for his work in the television series Frank's Place.
- Rob Cwest: British born actor, best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Torchwood.
- Greg Cwest: American born singer/songwriter with an extensive solo career.
- Tom Cwest: American born writer and director, most notable for his work on the iconic film ET: The Extra-Terrestrial.