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

Austen, 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 Austen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Austen in America

Austen is the 29793rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Austen surname appeared 789 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 Austen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Austen 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 Austen

The surname Austen is of English origin, derived from the ancient Germanic name "Austin". It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "Aust", meaning "east" or "rising sun", which was a common name prefix in the early medieval period.

The name Austen first appeared in historical records during the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Austen surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1176, where a certain Richard de Austen is listed as a landowner. The name was initially spelled in various ways, such as Auste, Austyn, and Austeyn, before settling into its modern form.

The Austen family was particularly prominent in the county of Kent, where they owned lands and estates in the village of Austen, near Tenterden. This place name likely contributed to the surname's establishment and spread.

Notable individuals bearing the Austen surname include:

1. Thomas Austen (c. 1370 - c. 1420), an English politician and member of the House of Commons.
2. Sir Robert Austen (c. 1580 - 1637), an English merchant and politician who served as Sheriff of London.
3. Jane Austen (1775 - 1817), the renowned English novelist known for her works such as "Pride and Prejudice", "Sense and Sensibility", and "Emma".
4. Sir Francis Austen (1774 - 1865), a British naval officer and the younger brother of Jane Austen.
5. Ralph Austen (1809 - 1876), an English naturalist and writer, best known for his work on the flora and fauna of the New Forest.

Throughout its history, the Austen surname has been associated with prominent figures in various fields, including literature, politics, and the military. Its enduring legacy is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of England and the lasting impact of its historical surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Austen

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

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

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

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