Best History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England
France
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Best

What does the name Best mean?

Best is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was a name given to a strong or resourceful man. The surname Best is derived from the Old English Old French word beste, and ultimately comes from the Latin word bestia, which means beast. 1 2 3 The surname Best may also be a metonym referring to some one who was employed as a herdsman.

However, two sources claim the name is more probably of Norman stock, having been derived been an abbreviation of the name Bessett. 4 5

Early Origins of the Best family

The surname Best was first found in Somerset, where William Best was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1201. Years later, Wilkin le Best was listed in the Assize Rolls for Cheshire in 1260 and later again, John Besteman was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the name: Richard le Beste in Cambridgeshire; William Best in Buckinghamshire and Walter Best in Oxfordshire. Thomas Best and Agnes Best were both listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. Robert Beast or Best was Sheriff of Norwich in 1495. 3

In Ireland, "the Irish Bests came from Kent, England and settling in Leinster in the seventeenth century became prominent in Carlow and adjacent counties." 4

In Scotland, "a booth was leased to John Best in Edinburgh, 1457. John Best was a skinner in Edinburgh, 1603 - the only one of the name in this record. Thomas Best was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1618 and Agnes Best is recorded in Jedburgh Forest, 1684." 7

Early History of the Best family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Best research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1495, 1570, 1572, 1576, 1577, 1578, 1583, 1584, 1590, 1596, 1598, 1602, 1609, 1638, 1640, 1652, 1657, 1659, 1687, 1709, 1740, 1826, 1840, 1847, 1856, 1871, 1890, 1946 and 1959 are included under the topic Early Best History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Best Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Best were recorded, including Best, Beast, Beste, Bestman and others.

Early Notables of the Best family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

George Best (d. 1584?), English navigator who accompanied Martin Frobisher in the three voyages undertaken (in 1576, 1577, and 1578) to discover the North-west Passage. There is some confusion as to t...
Paul Best (1590?-1657), was an English controversialist, who "came of a family which had been long of the gentry in the North Riding of Yorkshire; but his father, James Best, having removed to the Eas...
Thomas Best (1570?-1638?), was a Captain in the navy, and was probably the son of Captain George Best, the companion of Frobisher in his Arctic voyages
Charles Best (fl. 1602), was an English poet, a contributor to Francis Davison's 'Poetical Rapsodie.' 8

Best World Ranking

In the United States, the name Best is the 737^th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 9 However, in Canada, the name Best is ranked the 687^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,604 people with that name. 10 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Best is the 131^st popular surname with an estimated 282 people with that name. 11 Australia ranks Best as 612^nd with 6,388 people. 12 New Zealand ranks Best as 634^th with 1,125 people. 13 The United Kingdom ranks Best as 557^th with 11,675 people. 14

Migration of the Best family to Ireland

Some of the Best family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 540 words (39 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Best migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Best family emigrate to North America:

Best Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Christopher Best, who landed in Virginia in 1623 15
Christopher Best, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1624 15
John Best, from Canterbury, who landed in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Hercules", bound for Salem 15
Thomas Best, who settled in Virginia in 1635
Georg Best, who landed in Virginia in 1639 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Best Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Hirg Best, who landed in New York in 1709 15
Wilhelm Best, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 15
Boston Best, who landed in North Carolina in 1748 15
Johan Adam Best, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 15
Joh Georg Best, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Best Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Tho Best, aged 22, who landed in Wiskasset (Wiscasset) in 1803 15
James Best, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1805 15
George Best, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 15
Seragh Best, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 15
Ruth Best, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Best Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Anthony Best, (b. 1876), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th March 1900 en route to Ishpenning, Michigan, USA 16
Mr. John Best, (b. 1879), aged 21, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th March 1900 en route to Ishpenning, Michigan, USA 16
Mr. James Best, (b. 1874), aged 27, Cornish builder, from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th June 1901 en route to Hancock, Michigan, USA 16
Mr. Sydney Best, (b. 1875), aged 26, Cornish student, from St. Blazey, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 22nd June 1901 en route to Massachusetts, USA 16
Mr. John Best, (b. 1884), aged 19, Cornish blacksmith, from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 29th April 1903 en route to Hancock, Michigan, USA 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Best migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Best Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Best, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
Mr. Adam Best U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 17
Mr. Conrade Best U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 he died in 1785 17
Mr. Hermanus Best U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 17
Mr. Jacob Best, "Jacobus" Jr., U.E. who settled in Carleton Island, Saint Lawrence River, Ontario [New York] c. 1783 he served as part of the King's Royal Regiment of New York 2nd Battalion died in 1783 in Carleton Island [Cape Vincent], New York 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Best Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Best, who landed in Prince Edward Island in 1817
Emmanuel Best, who landed in Canada in 1828

Best migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Best Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Sarah Best, (Catapodi, Brown), English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18

Best Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Best, British convict who was convicted in Dorset, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 19
Miss Ann Best, (b. 1786), aged 26, English cotton spinner who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1829 20
Philip Best, English convict from York, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 21
Mr. George Best, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 13th March 1828, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 22
Mr. George Best, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 13th March 1828, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 22
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Best migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Best Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Best, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836 aboard the ship Patriot
William Best, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Charles Best, aged 23, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sir Charles Forbes" in 1842
Ann Best, aged 22, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sir Charles Forbes" in 1842
Daniel Best, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sir Charles Forbes" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Best migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 23

Best Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Richard Best, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 24

Contemporary Notables of the name Best (post 1700) +

Carrie Best OC ONS (1903-2001), Canadian journalist and social activist, from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, the first black owner and publisher of a Nova Scotia newspaper
Korban Best (b. 2003), American Paralympic sprint hunter, silver and bronze medalist at the 2024 Paralympics
Justin Best (1997-2020), American rower, he competed in the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics
Ben Best (1974-2021), American actor, writer, and producer, known for his work on Superbad, What Happens in Vegas, Observe and Report, and Land of the Lost
James Best (1926-2015), born Jules Guy, an American actor, best known for his starring role as bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the CBS television series The Dukes of Hazzard
Jacob Best Sr. (1786-1861), American brewer who founded what would later become known as the Pabst Brewing Company
David Best (b. 1945), American sculptor
Steven Best (b. 1955), American animal rights activist, author, talk-show host, and associate professor of philosophy at the University of Texas at El Paso
Rex Best, American award-winning soap opera writer
Pete Best (b. 1941), English drummer, the original drummer for the Beatles
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Best family +

RMS Titanic

Mr. Alfred Best (d. 1912), aged 38, English First Class Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25

St. Francis Dam

Mr. Paul J. Best, Canadian born American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

The Best Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Libertas in legibus
Motto Translation: Liberty in the law.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Emu
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html