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

Best, 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 Best surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Best in America

Best is the 911th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Best surname appeared 37,923 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 13 people would have the surname Best.

We can also compare 2010 data for Best 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 Best

The surname Best is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "best" meaning "the best" or "the most excellent." This name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was considered the best or most skilled in a particular trade or profession.

The earliest recorded instances of the Best surname can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, there is a reference to a Richard le Best. The surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John le Best is mentioned.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Best surname was John Best, a 15th-century English author and theologian who lived from around 1405 to 1470. He was a fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and is known for his work "The Farming Book," which provided guidance on agricultural practices.

In the 16th century, the Best family played a significant role in the English wool trade. Thomas Best, born around 1570 in Elmswell, Suffolk, was a prominent wool merchant and benefactor of the town. He founded almshouses and a school in Elmswell, which still bear his name today.

During the 17th century, the Best surname gained further prominence with individuals like Paul Best (1590-1657), an English clergyman and theologian who served as a chaplain to King Charles I. Another notable figure was Samuel Best (1738-1825), an English naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars.

The 18th century saw the rise of William Best (1768-1853), a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Pembroke Boroughs from 1807 to 1831. He was also a prominent figure in the Society of Friends (Quakers) and advocated for the abolition of slavery.

In the 19th century, William Thomas Best (1826-1897) was a British explorer and author who is best known for his travels in the Arctic regions. He wrote several books documenting his expeditions, including "Voyage of the Pandora" and "The Naturalist in Nicaragua."

While the surname Best has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, largely due to immigration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Best

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

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

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

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