Hastings
Derived from a place name meaning "Hæsta's people," referring to a settlement associated with a person named Hæsta.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 32,562 Americans carry the last name Hastings. That puts it at #1,253 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 9.50 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 10,526 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hastings surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
33K
1 in 10,526
Census rank
#1,253
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
9.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
28K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 28,015 bearers of the surname Hastings in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 9.50 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1253rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hastings, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Black (5.1%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hastings
The surname Hastings is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the town of Hastings in East Sussex, England. The name can be traced back to the 11th century and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
Hastings was originally a Saxon settlement known as Hastingaceaster or Hastingacaestra, meaning "the castle or fort of Hastings." The name likely referred to a fortified settlement established by a Saxon leader named Hæsta or Hæsting.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hastings appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation initiated by William the Conqueror. The book mentions a landowner named Ralph de Hastings, who held substantial estates in Yorkshire and Leicestershire.
In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Henry de Hastings (c. 1130-1195) served as Sheriff of Yorkshire and Constable of Richmond Castle. He was a loyal supporter of King Henry II and played a significant role in the suppression of the Great Revolt of 1173-1174.
During the 13th century, Sir Henry Hastings (c. 1235-1269) was a notable English knight who accompanied King Edward I on the Eighth Crusade to the Holy Land. He died in Acre, Palestine, during the crusade.
The Hastings family continued to rise in prominence, and in the 14th century, Sir John Hastings (c. 1347-1389) served as a military commander and diplomat under King Edward III. He was appointed Earl of Pembroke in 1368 and participated in several military campaigns against France during the Hundred Years' War.
Another notable figure was Sir William Hastings (c. 1431-1483), who served as Lord Chamberlain to King Edward IV. He was a loyal supporter of the House of York during the Wars of the Roses and played a crucial role in the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. However, he was later executed by King Richard III, marking a tragic end to his influential career.
Throughout the centuries, the Hastings surname has been associated with various place names and localities in England, such as Hastings in East Sussex, Hastings in Northamptonshire, and Hastings in Worcestershire. The name has also been recorded with slight variations in spelling, such as Hastyngs, Hastinges, and Hastingis.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hastings
Among Census respondents with the surname Hastings, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Black (5.1%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Hastings bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Hastings surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.0%
- Black or African American5.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hastings surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,253 | #1,253 | 0.0% |
| Count | 28,015 | 28,015 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 9.50 | 9.50 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hastings bearers went from 28,015 to 28,015 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,253 to #1,253.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hastings
FAQ
Hastings surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hastings?
The surname Hastings holds position #1,253 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 32,562 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 9.50 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hastings surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hastings, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Black (5.1%) and Hispanic (2.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.