Introduction

In November 1904 Johannes Cornelis Kwist, his wife Maria Susanna Anna van de Sande, and their children Anthonij, Pieternella and Johannes Jan Kwist arrived at Ellis Island, NY. From there, they went South Bend, Indiana where Johannes C. Kwist's brother, Marinus was waiting for them. This Kwist family had originated from the island of Schouwen Duiveland in The Netherlands.

In 1954, Jan Kwist, a carillon player from Vlissingen, The Netherlands, brought his wife Mattje "Martha" Hubregtse and their five children to America, settling around the Summerville, South Carolina area.

The surname Kwist isuncommon in the United States. It is Dutch and originates from Quist.

Through research, its been discovered that the Indiana and South Carolina branches are related through a common ancestor, Marinus Kwist (1811-1901) and his wife Johanna Jonker (1811-1853.) Johannes Cornelis Kwist and Jan Kwist were 1st cousins, once removed.

This family tree datesback to 1490 with our ancestor Lenaert Quist and his descendants who lived in Ouwerkerk, in the province of Zeeland during the1500's. In 2005, a Dutch article was published by a Mr. Verouden of TheNetherlands titled "The Old Quist's of Ouwerkerk." It has the Quist/Kwistgenealogy dating back to 1490 and includes Bastiaan and his brother Quirijn Quist (* aka Krijn Quist) who were born ca. 1565. Bastiaan is the direct ancestor of the South Bend and South Carolina Kwist families, while his brother Quirijn is the direct ancestor of the Dutch Quist families who migrated to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The webmaster is interested in collaborating with anyone with the surname Quist or Kwist which is of Dutch origin.