Best Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Best last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Best last name
Meaning of the Best last name: beast, or herdsman. The Best surname is English, from a Middle English word for "beast", perhaps a nickname for a rough man, or a job name for a herdsman. The last name is found widely in England, especially Kent and Yorkshire, and in America it joined German and Dutch names spelled the same way. A curious detail of this family name meaning: Charles Best, the co-discoverer of insulin, carried this name.
Arms associated with the Best name
English heraldry loves puns, choosing figures that echo the sound of a name, and that playful custom runs through many coats of arms linked with the Best name.
Get your full Best family history
This is only a glimpse of the Best story. The full Best history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Best coat of arms. Get the full Best report.
Best name FAQ
What does the Best name mean?
Beast, or herdsman. Common variants include Beste, Bests.
Where does the Best surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Germany.
Is there a Best coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Best coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).