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

Kosten, 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 Kosten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kosten in America

Kosten is the 58604th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kosten surname appeared 346 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 Kosten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kosten 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 Kosten

The surname KOSTEN is of German origin, with roots that can be traced back to the early modern period in Europe. It was originally associated with regions in central and southern Germany, particularly around the areas of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

One possible derivation of the name KOSTEN stems from the Middle High German word "koste," which referred to a form of payment or expense. This suggests that the surname may have been occupational in nature, potentially referring to an individual involved in financial or accounting matters.

Another theory links KOSTEN to the Old German word "kost," which meant "sustenance" or "food." In this context, the surname could have been associated with individuals involved in the production or distribution of food, such as bakers, farmers, or tavern keepers.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name KOSTEN appeared in various records and documents across German-speaking regions. One notable mention can be found in the "Kirchenbücher" (church records) of the town of Heilbronn, where a family by the name of KOSTEN is recorded as residing in the late 1500s.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Hans KOSTEN, a merchant who lived in the city of Nuremberg in the early 1600s. His son, Johann KOSTEN, was a prominent figure in the local guild system and served as a councilman in the city government.

In the 18th century, the KOSTEN surname gained recognition through the work of Johann Georg KOSTEN, a renowned composer and organist born in Würzburg in 1715. His contributions to sacred and instrumental music were highly regarded during his lifetime.

Another notable figure bearing the KOSTEN name was Karl Friedrich KOSTEN, a German painter and engraver born in Stuttgart in 1784. His works, which often depicted landscapes and scenes from nature, were widely celebrated and can be found in various art collections across Europe.

The name KOSTEN also has ties to various place names in Germany, such as the village of Kostenz in Bavaria, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Throughout history, the KOSTEN surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, artists, and tradesmen, reflecting the varied origins and meanings associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kosten

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

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

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

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