Find out how popular the last name Aarstad is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Aarstad.

Aarstad, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Aarstad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aarstad in America

Aarstad is the 106096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aarstad surname appeared 168 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Aarstad.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aarstad to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Aarstad

The surname Aarstad originated in Norway, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational surname derived from the Old Norse words "ár," meaning "river," and "staðr," meaning "place" or "farm." This suggests that the name likely referred to a farm or settlement located near a river.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Bjørn Aarstad, a Norwegian landowner who lived in the late 13th century. His name appears in several contemporaneous documents pertaining to land disputes and property transactions in the region now known as Rogaland.

In the 14th century, the Aarstad name can be found in the records of the Munkeliv Abbey, a prominent Benedictine monastery located in Bergen. These records document transactions involving individuals with the Aarstad surname, suggesting that the name was well-established in the region by that time.

The Aarstad name is also mentioned in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian diplomas and documents compiled in the 19th century. One notable entry from the late 15th century refers to Ingrid Aarstad, a landowner who was involved in a dispute over property rights.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Aarstad surname gained prominence in the Stavanger region of Norway. Several individuals bearing the name held positions of influence and authority within local governance and religious institutions. One such individual was Hans Aarstad (1587-1649), who served as the mayor of Stavanger from 1622 to 1628.

In the 18th century, the Aarstad name gained recognition beyond Norway's borders. Niels Aarstad (1712-1782), a renowned Norwegian-Danish naval officer, achieved significant fame for his military exploits and contributions to the development of the Danish Navy. His name is prominently featured in historical accounts of the time.

As the centuries progressed, the Aarstad surname continued to be carried by individuals of note. Among them were Lars Aarstad (1815-1888), a prominent Norwegian businessman and industrialist, and Ingrid Aarstad (1883-1957), a celebrated Norwegian author and playwright known for her works depicting rural life in Norway.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aarstad

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Aarstad.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Aarstad was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Aarstad has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Aarstad was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Aarstad, please contact us.

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