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

Masten, 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 Masten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Masten in America

Masten is the 11236th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Masten surname appeared 2,813 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 Masten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Masten 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 Masten

The surname Masten is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name, specifically the town of Masten or Maston in Gloucestershire, England. The name itself is derived from the Old English words "maest" meaning "highest" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement."

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

In the 13th century, the surname Masten appeared in various forms, including Mastun, Maston, and Masten, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common in those days. During this time, the name was primarily concentrated in the regions of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Masten throughout history include:

1. John Masten (c. 1560-1630), an English merchant and trader who established trade routes with the Netherlands and France.
2. Elizabeth Masten (1625-1689), a prominent landowner and philanthropist in Somerset, known for her contributions to the establishment of local schools and churches.
3. Robert Masten (1720-1789), a British military officer who served in the Seven Years' War and later became a member of Parliament.
4. Samuel Masten (1837-1912), an American inventor and engineer credited with developing an early form of the mechanical reaper, which revolutionized agricultural practices.
5. Emily Masten (1901-1988), a renowned American botanist and conservationist, known for her work in preserving rare plant species and advocating for environmental protection.

The surname Masten has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Masten Hill in Gloucestershire and Masten Manor in Somerset. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

While the surname Masten is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has persisted through the centuries, carrying with it a rich history and a connection to the rural settlements and agricultural communities of southwestern England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Masten

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

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

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

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