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

Heskett, 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 Heskett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heskett in America

Heskett is the 14838th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heskett surname appeared 1,997 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 Heskett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heskett 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 Heskett

The surname Heskett has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hesket," which referred to a hazel-colored or light brown object or person. This could suggest that the name was initially a descriptive nickname given to someone with a particular hair or complexion color.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Heskett surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166. These rolls were a record of financial transactions and accounts, indicating that individuals bearing this surname were present in the region during that time.

The name Heskett is also linked to several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Cumbria and Lancashire. For instance, the village of Hesket Newmarket in Cumbria is believed to have contributed to the surname's development. The place name itself is thought to have originated from the Old English words "hæsel" (hazel) and "get" (path or road), referring to a hazel-lined path or route.

In the 13th century, a variant spelling of the surname, "Hesketh," appeared in records from Lancashire. This version is believed to have been derived from the place name "Hesketh Bank," a township located near the River Ribble.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the Heskett surname. One of the earliest recorded was William de Hesketh (born around 1240), who was a landowner and knight from Lancashire. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Heskett (1549-1605), an English soldier who served in the Anglo-Spanish War and was knighted for his military achievements.

In the literary world, John Heskett (1925-2014) was a renowned British author and design historian. He wrote several influential books on design and its impact on society, including "Industrial Design" and "Toothpicks and Logos: Design in Everyday Life."

Other notable individuals include Sir Arthur Heskett (1879-1916), a British army officer who served in World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery, and John Heskett (born 1938), a former English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the 1960s.

While the Heskett surname may have originated from a descriptive nickname or place name, it has since become a well-established and respected family name with a rich history spanning several centuries in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heskett

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

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

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

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