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

Desty, 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 Desty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Desty in America

Desty is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Desty surname appeared 107 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 Desty.

The history of the last name Desty

The surname Desty originates from England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dest," meaning "destitute" or "poor," suggesting that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived in poverty or had limited means.

Early records show variations in the spelling of the name, including Desti, Destye, and Destee, reflecting the evolving nature of language and pronunciation over time. One of the earliest known references to the Desty name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "William Desty."

The name has been associated with various regions in England, particularly in the counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire. Some historical records indicate that the Desty family had connections to the village of Flitwick in Bedfordshire, where they may have held land or property.

Notable individuals with the Desty surname include Robert Desty (c. 1550-1615), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the sacraments, and William Desty (1764-1841), a British military officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

Another prominent figure was John Desty (1791-1864), an English-born architect who emigrated to the United States and designed several notable buildings, including the Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut, and the Old City Hall in New Haven, Connecticut.

In the 19th century, the name appears in records of the Yorkshire region, where Thomas Desty (1810-1878) was a successful businessman and industrialist involved in the wool trade. He was also a prominent member of the local community, serving as a magistrate and member of the council.

Lastly, one of the more recent historical figures bearing the Desty name was Wilfred Desty (1882-1957), a British author and journalist who wrote extensively on topics related to travel, history, and culture. His works include "The Lure of Nepal" and "The Silk Road to Cathay," reflecting his adventurous spirit and curiosity about the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Desty

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

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 Desty 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.

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

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

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