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

Kasten, 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 Kasten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kasten in America

Kasten is the 7614th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kasten surname appeared 4,366 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 Kasten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kasten 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 Kasten

The surname Kasten originates from Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "kaste," which means "chest" or "box." This could suggest that the name was initially given as an occupational surname to someone who made or sold chests or boxes.

In the 13th century, the name Kasten appeared in various German records and manuscripts, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of documents related to the Saxon region. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Kasten, mentioned in a document from Mainz in 1289.

During the late medieval period, the name Kasten was particularly prevalent in the regions of Saxony, Thuringia, and Franconia. It is likely that the name originated in one of these areas and was later adopted by families in other parts of Germany.

The Kasten surname has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Johann Kasten (1552-1617), a German composer and organist, was active during the Renaissance period and is known for his contributions to sacred music. Another notable bearer of the name was Georg Kasten (1700-1784), a German architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Baroque style.

In the 19th century, Johann Kasten (1823-1899), a German-American businessman and politician, served as the mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, from 1870 to 1872. He played a significant role in the city's development during the post-Civil War era.

The name Kasten has also been linked to various place names throughout Germany, such as Kastendorf (a village in Saxony-Anhalt) and Kastenholz (a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate). These place names may have influenced the spread of the surname or vice versa, as people often adopted surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

While the Kasten surname has its roots in Germany, it has since been adopted by families in other parts of the world due to emigration and migration patterns. However, its rich history and origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Central Europe, where it was closely associated with the occupation of chest or box making.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kasten

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

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

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

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