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Rist Family History

Rist Surname Meaning

English: most probably a variant of the Yorkshire name Wrest which is either a nickname from Middle English wrest ‘noble magnanimous’ or a topographic name from Middle English wrest wrast ‘something twisted’ perhaps in the sense ‘tangled thicket’.

Alternatively it may be a variant of Rest.

German: variant of Ruest.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rist family from?

You can see how Rist families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rist family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rist families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 72 Rist families living in London. This was about 29% of all the recorded Rist's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Rist families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rist surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Rist ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer Heavy Work and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Rist. 15% of Rist men worked as a Bricklayer Heavy Work and 87% of Rist women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rist were Colliery Hewer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Rist | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Bricklayer Heavy Work
    15%
  • Bricklayer
    15%
  • Farmworker
    15%
  • Colliery Hewer
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    87%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    4%
  • Housekeeper
    4%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%

What Rist family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Rist. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rist census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rist

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Rist. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Rist immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Rist. For the veterans among your Rist ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rist military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rist family history

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What is the average Rist lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Rist life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Rist in 1944 was 25, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rist

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rist ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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