Gender: Masculine
Origin: Lithuanian
Meaning: “suffer; cope; endure.”
(kas-TOO-tis)

The name is derived from the Lithuanian element, kęsti meaning “to suffer, to cope; to endure.” This element appears in several other ancient Lithuanian male names, such as Kęstas, Kęstaras and Kęstautas.

The name was borne by a Lithuanian Grand Duke of the Middle Ages, who ruled alongside with his brother, Algirdas.

Other forms include:

• Kastut/Kestut/Kestutsi Кестут, Кестуці (Belarusian)
• Ķēstutis (Latvian)
• Kiejstut (Polish)
• Kēstotis (Saimogaitian)

The designated name-day is February 21.

Sources

1. Kiaupa, Zigmantas; Jūratė Kiaupienė, Albinas Kunevičius (2000) [1995]. The History of Lithuania Before 1795 (English ed.).
2. Urban, William (2006). Samogitian Crusade. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. pp. 170–171.
3. http://day.lt/vardai/K%E6stutis
4. http://www.lrytas.lt/?data=&id=11832768841182643783&sk_id=&view=4&p=4