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
School 600
Farm Labourer 80
Private Means 50
General Labourer 43
General Servant (domestic) 40
None 35
Dressmaker 32
Labourer 32
Farmer 31
Clerk 29
House Painter 28
House Keeper 26
At School 25
Domestic Servant 22
Nil 19
Cabinet Maker 18
Bricklayer 18
Errand Boy 16
Laundress 16
Butcher 15
Cook (domestic) 15
Carman 15
Scholar 14
Student 14
Carpenter 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