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

Eastman, 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 Eastman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eastman in America

Eastman is the 2162nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eastman surname appeared 16,791 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Eastman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eastman 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 Eastman

The surname Eastman is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words 'east' and 'mann,' meaning 'a man from the east.' This name was likely given to someone who lived in an easterly location or originated from an eastern region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Eastman surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Eastman surname was primarily concentrated in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in eastern England. Some variations in spelling included Eastmanne, Estman, and Estmane, reflecting the fluidity of surname conventions at the time.

In the 16th century, records show an Eastman family residing in the town of Rye, Sussex. One notable member was Sir George Eastman, a merchant and Member of Parliament for Rye, who lived from around 1520 to 1587.

Another prominent figure was George Eastman (1854-1932), the American entrepreneur and inventor who founded the Eastman Kodak Company. Although his surname originated in England, he was born in Waterville, New York, and revolutionized the photographic industry.

Other historical figures bearing the Eastman surname include:

1. Charles Eastman (1858-1939), a Native American author and physician known as Ohiyesa.
2. Max Eastman (1883-1969), an American writer and political activist.
3. Crystal Eastman (1881-1928), a lawyer and leader in the women's suffrage movement.
4. Linda Eastman (1941-1998), an American photographer and the first wife of Paul McCartney.

The Eastman surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Eastman, Georgia, and Eastman, Wisconsin, both named after individuals with the surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eastman

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

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

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

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