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

Asta, 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 Asta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Asta in America

Asta is the 37076th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Asta surname appeared 602 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 Asta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Asta 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 Asta

The surname Asta originated in Italy, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "astus," which means "cunning" or "shrewd." The name was likely adopted by families who possessed these traits or lived in areas associated with astuteness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Asta surname can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Longobardo, a collection of historical documents from the Lombard period in Italy, dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Asta," "Astus," and "Astari," suggesting its widespread use.

In the 11th century, the Asta family was mentioned in a manuscript from the Benedictine monastery of San Sisto in Piacenza, Italy. This document highlighted their involvement in the local community and their ownership of land and properties in the region.

During the Renaissance period, the Asta family gained prominence in the city of Florence. Notable individuals from this time include Bartolomeo Asta (1470-1543), a renowned painter and sculptor who contributed to the decoration of several churches in Florence, including the Basilica of Santa Croce.

Another prominent figure was Giovanni Asta (1556-1628), a Italian jurist and legal scholar who served as a magistrate in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. His work, "Treatise on the Laws of the Grand Duchy," was widely regarded in legal circles of the time.

In the 18th century, the Asta family had a presence in the Kingdom of Naples, where Giuseppe Asta (1712-1784) was a respected architect and engineer. He designed several notable buildings, including the Palazzo Asta in Naples, which still stands today.

The Asta surname also found its way to other parts of Europe, such as France and Spain. In France, Jacques Asta (1801-1876) was a prominent historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of the French Revolution.

In Spain, the Asta family had a strong presence in the region of Catalonia. One notable figure was Ramón Asta y Ferrer (1860-1932), a Catalan painter and illustrator known for his works depicting scenes from daily life in Barcelona.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and the widespread presence of the Asta surname across various regions and time periods, reflecting the influence and contributions of individuals bearing this name throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Asta

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

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

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

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