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

Kesterke, 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 Kesterke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kesterke in America

Kesterke is the 105600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kesterke surname appeared 169 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kesterke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kesterke 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 Kesterke

The surname Kesterke originates from the Low German region of northern Germany and the Netherlands, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Low German word "kester," which means "chestnut tree." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a chestnut tree or a grove of chestnut trees.

While the exact origins of the name are unclear, it is known that variations of the spelling, such as Kesterken and Kesterkamp, appeared in historical records from the region. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of Emden, East Frisia, in the late 16th century, where a family with the surname Kesterke is mentioned.

The name Kesterke has also been linked to various place names in the Low German region, such as Kesteren in the Netherlands and Kester in Germany. These place names likely originated from the same root word as the surname, further solidifying the connection between the name and the chestnut tree.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Kesterke. One such figure was Johann Kesterke (1652-1728), a German-born theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Rostock. Another was Gerhard Kesterke (1779-1842), a German poet and writer who published several works during the Romantic era.

In the Netherlands, the name Kesterke has been associated with the artist Dirk Kesterke (1820-1892), who was known for his landscape paintings and etchings. Pieter Kesterke (1875-1955), a Dutch architect, also gained recognition for his contributions to the Amsterdam School architectural style.

Finally, one cannot overlook the significance of Johan Kesterke (1914-2001), a Dutch resistance fighter during World War II who played a crucial role in the Dutch resistance movement against the Nazi occupation.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Kesterke has a rich history spanning centuries and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, each leaving their mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of the Low German region and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kesterke

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

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

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

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