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

Kesto, 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 Kesto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kesto in America

Kesto is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kesto surname appeared 107 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 Kesto.

The history of the last name Kesto

The surname Kesto originated in Finland, with its roots dating back to the early 19th century. It is believed to be derived from the Finnish word "kestävä," which means "durable" or "long-lasting." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with a person or family known for their endurance or resilience.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kesto can be found in the parish records of Ruovesi, a municipality in the Pirkanmaa region of Finland. In 1825, a farmer named Juho Kesto was mentioned in these records, indicating that the name was already in use during that time period.

Another notable historical reference to the name Kesto comes from the Finnish National Archives, which houses a collection of military records from the 19th century. These records mention a soldier named Matti Kesto, who served in the Finnish army during the Crimean War (1853-1856).

In the early 20th century, a man named Kalle Kesto (1872-1946) gained recognition as a prominent woodcarver and furniture maker in the town of Seinäjoki. His intricate and skillful woodwork became highly sought after, and his legacy as a master craftsman helped to preserve the name Kesto in the local community.

During the same era, a writer and journalist named Eino Kesto (1890-1967) made significant contributions to Finnish literature. He published several novels and short stories, many of which explored themes related to rural life and the struggles of the working class in Finland.

Another individual of note was Aino Kesto (1901-1985), a pioneering female architect who was instrumental in designing several notable buildings in Helsinki, including the iconic Kesto-Paviljonki, a modernist-style pavilion that served as a popular restaurant and event venue in the city.

Throughout its history, the surname Kesto has been found in various parts of Finland, particularly in the regions of Pirkanmaa, South Ostrobothnia, and Uusimaa, where it has maintained a strong presence among Finnish families.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kesto

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

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 Kesto 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.

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

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

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