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

Ahasteen, 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 Ahasteen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ahasteen in America

Ahasteen is the 116829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ahasteen surname appeared 149 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 Ahasteen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ahasteen 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 Ahasteen

The surname Ahasteen finds its origins in the Navajo Nation, a Native American territory located in the Southwestern United States. The name's roots can be traced back to the 18th century, when the Navajo people were still primarily nomadic, residing in the region now known as the Four Corners area, where the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah meet.

The name Ahasteen is derived from the Navajo language, with "Aha" meaning "to wander" or "to roam," and "steen" being a suffix that denotes a person or a group. Collectively, Ahasteen can be translated as "wanderer" or "nomad," reflecting the traditional lifestyle of the Navajo people during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ahasteen can be found in the journals of Spanish explorers and missionaries who ventured into the region in the late 18th century. These accounts often referred to the Navajo as "Apaches de Navajó," and some of the individuals they encountered were identified by names similar to Ahasteen.

Throughout the 19th century, as the Navajo Nation became more established and their interactions with the United States government increased, the name Ahasteen appeared in various official records and documents. One notable figure was Ahasteen Begay, a prominent Navajo leader and diplomat who played a pivotal role in negotiating treaties and fostering relationships between his people and the U.S. government in the mid-1800s.

Another influential individual bearing the surname Ahasteen was Mary Ahasteen, a revered Navajo weaver and artist who lived from 1882 to 1968. Her intricate and vibrant weavings, which often depicted traditional Navajo patterns and symbols, are celebrated as masterpieces of Native American art and are housed in renowned museums across the United States.

In the early 20th century, a notable figure named Chee Ahasteen gained recognition for his skills as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II. The Code Talkers were a group of Native American Marines who used their indigenous languages to transmit coded messages, playing a crucial role in the Allied victory in the Pacific Theater.

Another prominent individual with the surname Ahasteen was John Ahasteen, a renowned Navajo artist and silversmith who lived from 1924 to 2008. His intricate and detailed silver jewelry and sculptures showcased traditional Navajo designs and motifs, earning him widespread acclaim and numerous awards throughout his career.

While the name Ahasteen is deeply rooted in the Navajo culture and tradition, it has also been adopted by individuals of other Native American tribes and backgrounds, reflecting the interconnectedness and shared experiences of indigenous communities across North America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ahasteen

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

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 Ahasteen 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 Ahasteen 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 Ahasteen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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