2000
#137,816
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Bastar
An ethnic surname derived from the region of Bastar in central India.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Bastar. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bastar surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Bastar in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bastar, the largest self-reported group is White at 55.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (39.3%) and Two or More Races (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bastar
The surname BASTAR originated in India, specifically in the region of Chhattisgarh, which was formerly known as the Bastar district. This name has its roots in the ancient Dravidian language, with "Bastar" being derived from the word "Vasta" or "Vasti," which means "habitat" or "dwelling place."
The name can be traced back to the 13th century, when the region was ruled by the Kakatiya dynasty. Historical records from this period mention the Bastar district and its inhabitants, who were known for their unique cultural traditions and way of life. The earliest known reference to the surname BASTAR is found in a local chronicle dated around 1275 CE, which mentions a chieftain named Basta Raju.
During the 16th century, the Bastar region came under the control of the Kalchuri dynasty, and the name BASTAR became more prominent in administrative records and local accounts. One notable figure from this period was Basta Devi, a local ruler who is said to have played a crucial role in preserving the cultural heritage of the region.
In the 18th century, the Bastar region was a part of the Maratha Empire, and the name BASTAR appears in several historical documents from this era, including land grants and revenue records. A prominent figure from this time was Basta Rao, a local landlord who was known for his expertise in agriculture and his philanthropic endeavors.
As the region came under British rule in the 19th century, the name BASTAR gained wider recognition. One notable individual was Basta Singh, a local chieftain who led a rebellion against the British in the 1840s. His exploits were documented in British colonial records and local folklore.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the name BASTAR was also associated with the region's rich cultural heritage. Basta Lal, a renowned artist and sculptor, gained recognition for his intricate wood carvings and traditional art forms, which are still celebrated today.
Throughout its history, the surname BASTAR has been closely tied to the geography, culture, and traditions of the Bastar region in India. While the name may have evolved in its spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, it remains a testament to the rich heritage and resilience of the people who call this region their home.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bastar
Among Census respondents with the surname Bastar, the largest self-reported group is White at 55.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (39.3%) and Two or More Races (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Bastar bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bastar surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White55.4% · 62
- Hispanic or Latino39.3% · 44
- Two or more races3.6% · 4
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bastar
Bastar appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#128,249
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 133
+21 bearers (+18.8%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 9,567 places
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
-21 bearers (-15.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 19,705 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #137,816 | 112 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #128,249 | 133 | 0.05 | +21 bearers (+18.8%) | Up 9,567 places |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | -21 bearers (-15.8%) | Down 19,705 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bastar surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #128,249 | #147,954 | -15.4% |
| Count | 133 | 112 | -15.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -25.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bastar bearers went from 133 to 112 (-15.8% change). The surname moved down 19,705 positions in the national ranking, going from #128,249 to #147,954.
FAQ
Bastar surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bastar?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Bastar. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Bastar?
Bastar ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Bastar. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Bastar.
Has Bastar become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bastar went from 133 recorded bearers to 112. That is a decrease of 21 (-15.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #128,249 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Bastar?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bastar, the largest self-reported group is White at 55.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (39.3%) and Two or More Races (3.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bastar in the 2020 Census, accounting for 55.4% (62 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bastar appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (55.4%), Hispanic (39.3%), Two or More Races (3.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bastar (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bastar mean?
An ethnic surname derived from the region of Bastar in central India. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bastar (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Bastar?
If you just want to know how many Americans have the surname Bastar, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.