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

Bast, 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 Bast surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bast in America

Bast is the 12192nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bast surname appeared 2,555 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bast.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bast 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 Bast

The surname "BAST" is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "bast," which means "bark" or "fiber." This suggests that the name may have been associated with occupations related to the processing or use of tree bark or fibers.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Baste" or "Basten," and it was predominantly found in central and southern regions of Germany, particularly in areas like Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval German records, such as land registries and census documents.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johann Bast, a weaver from the town of Nuremberg, who lived in the late 15th century. Another notable figure was Hans Bast, a master carpenter from Augsburg, who was active in the early 16th century and is credited with contributing to the city's renowned architectural heritage.

In the 17th century, the name "BAST" appeared in the Kirchenbücher (church books) of various German parishes, indicating its widespread use among families across different regions. One such example is the record of Johann Michael Bast, born in 1685 in the village of Eberbach, near Heidelberg.

As the name spread beyond Germany, it also took on variations in spelling and pronunciation. In the Netherlands, for instance, the name appeared as "Bast" or "Baste," while in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, it was sometimes rendered as "Baszta" or "Baszto."

Among the notable bearers of the "BAST" surname in more recent history is the German painter and printmaker Max Bast (1876-1947), known for his landscapes and cityscapes. Another prominent figure was the German writer and historian Friedrich Bast (1892-1976), who authored several works on the history of Baden-Württemberg and the Black Forest region.

While the surname "BAST" may have evolved over time and across different regions, its roots can be traced back to the occupational and geographical origins in medieval Germany, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped many European surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bast

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!