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

Costner, 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 Costner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Costner in America

Costner is the 11223rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Costner surname appeared 2,818 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 Costner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Costner 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 Costner

The surname COSTNER is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 15th century. It is derived from the German word "Kost," which means "food" or "provisions," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in the provision or preparation of food, such as innkeepers, cooks, or bakers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name COSTNER can be found in the Alsatian town of Colmar, where a certain Hans Costner is mentioned in a document from 1486. This document refers to him as a resident of the town and provides insights into the early use of the surname in that region.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name COSTNER spread across various parts of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. It is also worth noting that the name underwent several spelling variations, such as Kostner, Köstner, and Koestner, reflecting regional linguistic variations and the evolution of the German language over time.

In the 18th century, records indicate that the COSTNER family had established a presence in the United States, with some members settling in Pennsylvania and other colonial regions. One notable figure from this period was Johann Michael Costner, who was born in 1732 in Württemberg, Germany, and later emigrated to America, where he became a renowned farmer and landowner in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

As the 19th century unfolded, the COSTNER name continued to gain prominence, particularly in the American South. One of the most famous individuals bearing this surname was Benjamin Parker Costner, a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War, who was born in 1838 and served in the 16th Virginia Infantry Regiment.

Another notable figure from this era was William Costner, a prominent educator and author who was born in 1845 in Tennessee. He is renowned for his contributions to the field of education and for his writings on various subjects, including history and literature.

In the 20th century, the COSTNER surname gained global recognition thanks to the acclaimed American actor and filmmaker Kevin Costner, who was born in 1955. His remarkable performances in films such as "Dances with Wolves," "The Untouchables," and "Field of Dreams" have cemented his status as a Hollywood icon and have further popularized the COSTNER name worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Costner

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

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

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

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