The name Shasta has its origins in the Native American languages of northern California. The word "shasta" is believed to derive from the Shasta tribe's name for themselves, which translates to "tall upright people" or "those who dwell at the hills". The Shasta people inhabited the region surrounding Mount Shasta, a prominent volcanic peak in the southern Cascade Range.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Shasta comes from the journals of early European explorers and fur traders in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They documented encounters with the Shasta tribe and the use of the name to refer to both the people and the surrounding geographic features, such as Mount Shasta and the Shasta River.

In the 19th century, the name gained popularity beyond its Native American origins. Shasta became a common name for towns, settlements, and geographic features in the western United States, particularly in California and Oregon. This was likely due to the influence of the Shasta tribe and the prominence of Mount Shasta in the region.

One notable historical figure with the name Shasta was Shasta Costa Miller (1809-1888), a Native American woman of the Wintu tribe who was known for her involvement in the early development of the city of Redding, California. She was born near the present-day site of Redding and helped guide early settlers to the area.

Another historical figure with the name Shasta was Shasta Avenvogel (1862-1948), a German-American writer and artist who lived in San Francisco during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was known for her writings on spiritualism and her involvement in the Theosophical Society.

In the realm of literature, the name Shasta appears in the famous novel "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis, published in 1954. Shasta is the name of the protagonist, a young boy who finds himself on a journey through the fictional land of Narnia.

The name Shasta has also been used in the automotive industry. In 1960, the Chevrolet Motor Division introduced the Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder, which was marketed as the "Shasta". This was a limited-edition model of the Corvair with a distinctive styling and performance upgrades.

Another historical figure with the name Shasta was Shasta Groene (born 1993), an American woman who gained national attention in 2005 after being abducted and held captive for several weeks along with her younger brother. Their story brought attention to the issue of child abduction and safety.