East Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

East Name Meaning: From those that lived to the east of a wood or in an eastern wood or a regional name for someone who had migrated from the east of a place.

Originated from Anlo-Saxon words east and 'wudu' meaning wood.This surname has absorbed various other European names with similar meaning.

Discover how your East ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

East Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the East family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 853
Agricultural Labourer 135
General Labourer 76
Domestic Servant 53
Labourer 44
Dress Maker 41
General Servant Domestic 41
Carpenter 37
Living On Own Means 37
Farmer 36
Laundress 33
Farm Labourer 33
General Servant 31
Gardener 27
Living On Her Own Means 24
General Domestic Servant 24
Clerk 21
Cook Domestic Servant 16
Farm Servant 16
Cotton Weaver 16
Blacksmith 15
Butcher 15
Coal Miner 15
Errand Boy 15
Painter 14

East Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 East 100% 36,255
2 Aust 50% 2,817
3 Sait 50% 2,504
4 St John 0% 1,722
5 Eastoe 67% 1,285
6 Sate 25% 1,071
7 St George 11% 696
8 Ost 50% 533
9 St Clair 13% 525
10 Easto 80% 350
11 Seat 50% 344
12 Austee 33% 300
13 St Aubyn 13% 227
14 St Paul 14% 184
15 St Leger 13% 183
16 Site 0% 182
17 St Pier 0% 180
18 Austie 33% 172
19 Easte 80% 150
20 Aste 50% 140
21 Seate 40% 117
22 Sute 0% 103
23 Suit 25% 102

Did you know?

The surname East is the most popular version of all its varients

Search for the East family