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

Kester, 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 Kester surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kester in America

Kester is the 4870th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kester surname appeared 7,237 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Kester.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kester 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 Kester

The surname Kester originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "cester," which means "a dweller of a Roman town or village." This suggests that the name was initially given to people who lived in or near the remains of Roman settlements.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kestere." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land holdings in England, and it provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that time.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in various records as "Kestere" and "Kesteir." These variations reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time. Notably, the surname is often associated with place names containing the word "cester," such as Leicester, Manchester, and Worcester.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kester was John Kester, born around 1320 in Leicestershire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local council.

Another notable figure was William Kester, born in 1445 in Worcestershire, England. He was a respected scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Oxford.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with Sir Thomas Kester, born in 1520 in Cheshire, England. He was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Chester from 1568 to 1569.

During the 17th century, the surname Kester appeared in various records across England. One notable individual was Robert Kester, born in 1642 in Manchester. He was a prominent Puritan minister and author of several religious works.

In the 18th century, the name Kester was associated with John Kester, born in 1712 in Yorkshire, England. He was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Kester who have left their mark throughout history. The name's origins can be traced back to medieval England, and it has been carried by notable figures across various fields over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kester

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

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

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

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