The name Austen has its origins in the Old English language and is derived from the word "Æðelstan," which means "noble stone." It is a compound name, with "Æðel" meaning "noble" and "stan" meaning "stone."

The earliest recorded use of the name Austen can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England, between the 5th and 11th centuries. It was a popular name among the Anglo-Saxon nobility and was often given to sons of noble families.

One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Austen, a monk who lived in the 7th century and is mentioned in the Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Another notable figure was Austen of Canterbury, who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1091 to 1109.

During the Middle Ages, the name Austen continued to be used, particularly in England. It is recorded in various historical documents and records from this period, such as the Domesday Book, which was compiled in 1086.

In the 16th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Austen Friars, an English Protestant reformer and martyr who was executed in 1555 during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another notable figure from this era was Austen Leigh, a 17th-century English writer and biographer, who was born in 1629.

The 18th century saw the rise of one of the most famous individuals with the name Austen: Jane Austen, the renowned English novelist, who was born in 1775 and is best known for her novels such as "Pride and Prejudice," "Sense and Sensibility," and "Emma."

Other notable individuals with the name Austen include Austen Henry Layard, a 19th-century English archaeologist and diplomat who was born in 1817; Austen Chamberlain, a British statesman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was born in 1863; and Austen St. Barbe, a 20th-century English cricketer who played for Somerset County Cricket Club and was born in 1890.

While the name Austen has its roots in Old English and has been used throughout history, it has also gained popularity in modern times, particularly due to the enduring influence and popularity of Jane Austen's literary works.