Priest Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Priest Name Meaning: Thought to have derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'preoston' meaning 'priest settlement'.

May refer to someone who lived in a settlement that a priest lived in or a settlement owned by the church. This surname may have also been taken from a settlment of the same name (for example Preston in Lancashire).

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Priest Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Priest family

Profession Census Frequency
Female Servant 61
Agricultural Labourer 60
Independent 39
Labourer 37
Male Servant 34
Nailor 32
Farmer 14
Miner 11
Blacksmith 10
Servant 9
Chain Maker 9
Ag Labourer 9
Nail Maker 9
Shoe Maker 8
Carpenter 8
Joiner 7
Coal Miner Miner Miner 7
Collier 6
Painter 6
Bricklayer 6
Cordwainer 6
Pupil 6
Tailor 6
Man Servant 6
Nailer 6

Priest Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Priest 100% 26,449
2 Prest 83% 7,821
3 Prust 67% 1,884
4 Prost 67% 735
5 Prist 83% 717
6 Preest 83% 371
7 Preist 67% 340
8 Prestoe 57% 142
9 Preast 67% 114

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

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