Recorded as Dust, occasionally Dast, and the very rare or extinct Duest and Duost, this is an English surname of great antiquity. There are believed to be several possible originations of which the most likely is from the Old English pre 7th century word "dust". This was used as a descriptive baptismal name for a small person or perhaps as a nickname. This type of nickname and later surname was very popular in the early medieval period around the 12th century, when people were often given names which in later times would be regarded as obscene or at least unacceptable, although we have no reason to believe that this is one of them. The recordings of the name are very early and include Walter Dust in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Yorkshire in the year 1203, and that of Robert le Doust in the tax rolls known as the Feet of Fines for the county of Kent in 1316. Unusual examples which are believed to be extinct and described a person of little worth, included William Dustifot in the Assize Rolls of Worcestershire in 1221, and Thomas Dustiberd in the charters known as the Calendar of the Patent Rolls, for Somerset in 1229. Curiously in 1332 we have what appears to be a locational recording suggesting that a hamlet called "Doustes" may have existed. This was Richard del Doustes in the tax Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire. Early church register recordings include Roberte Duste who married Margery Heath at St. Giles Cripplegate, London, on September 3rd 1609, and Mary Dust married Francis Ffeild at St. Mary Whitechapel, London, on February 20th 1622, and Samule Dast, a witness at St Saviours Southwark, on August 13th 1820. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Ulf Dust. This was dated 1030 a.d., during the reign of King Canute of England", 1016 - 1035.

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