We know the European origins of only a few of the Yost - Jost families that migrated to Pennsylvania during the colonial era.  Most of them came from German speaking areas and most of them were either Lutherans or members of the Reformed faith.

These are the immigrants whose origins have been identified:

Jacob Jost, accompanied by another person, arrived at Philadelphia 18 September 1727 aboard the William & Sarah, William Hill, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. The group included 109 men and their families, numbering in all about 400. They were led by the German Reformed Church minister, George Michael Weiss. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 7, 9 and Rupp, p 49.) Jacob Jost was born 16 March 1696 in the province of Zweibrucken and settled at Whitpain Township, Montgomery County. (See The Pennsylvania German Society, "Proceedings and Addresses -- The Yost Family -- By J. Irwin Yost." The Society, Norristown, Pennsylvania 1906, v 7, pp 337 - 341.)

Frederic Joost, age 18, a rope-maker from Ludwigsburg in Wirtemberg, Germany, arrived at Philadelphia 19 September 1804 aboard the Margaret, E. C. Gardner, master. Frederic Joost is further described as being 5 feet tall with yellow hair. The ship was from Amsterdam. (See Strassburger, v 3, p 156.)

George Jost, age 24, a baker, arrived at Philadelphia 3 December 1807 aboard the William P. Johnson, Moses Wells, master. George Jost is further described as a native of Offenbach, a subject of Prince Primas, of middle-size with black hair and eyes. The ship was from Holland. (See Strassburger, v 3, p 201.)

If you know of the origins of any other Jost or Yost immigrants, please send an e-mail message to: Editor@Yosthistory.com