Jost is a German masculine given name and a surname, also used as an Ashkenazi Jewish surname. It originated as a German short form of the name Joyce, which itself derives from the medieval masculine name Josse, a Latinized form of the Breton name Judoc (Iudocus). The Breton name Judoc means "lord," and the name was borne by a 7th-century Breton saint. Breton settlers introduced the name to England after the Norman Conquest, and from there it spread to German-speaking regions, where the form Jost or Joost (in Dutch) became established. Cultural and Linguistic Context Jost is part of a family of related names across European languages. Variants include Joost in Dutch, Joos (also Dutch), and the medieval Latin forms Jodocus and Judocus. In German-speaking areas, Jost was common as a given name from the Middle Ages onward, often associated with the saint's cult of Saint Judoc. The name also appears as a Jewish (Ashkenazi) surname, adopted by families in German-speaking regions. Notable Bearers Several notable individuals have borne Jost as a given name or surname. As a given name, it includes Jost Amman (1539–1591), a Swiss woodcut artist; Jost Bürgi (1552–1632), a Swiss clockmaker and mathematician; Jost Metzler (1909–1975), a German submarine commander in World War II; Jost Vacano (born 1934), a German cinematographer; and Jost Capito (born 1958), a German motorsport manager. As a surname, Jost appears in various fields: Alfred Jost (1916–1991) was a French endocrinologist; Christian Jost (born 1963) is a German composer; Colin Jost (born 1982) is an American writer and comedian; Heinz Jost (1904–1964) was a Nazi SS war criminal; Henry L. Jost (1873–1950) was an American politician; Isaak Markus Jost (1793–1860) was a Jewish historian; John Jost (born 1968) is an American social psychologist; and Jon Jost (born 1943) is an American independent filmmaker. Meaning: German form of Joyce, ultimately from Breton 'Judoc' meaning 'lord' Origin: German (given name), Jewish (Ashkenazi) surname Type: Given name and surname Usage Regions: German-speaking Europe, Jewish communities