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

Rast, 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 Rast surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rast in America

Rast is the 16395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rast surname appeared 1,755 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 Rast.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rast 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 Rast

The surname Rast is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rest," which referred to a place where cattle would rest or graze. The name was likely first used as a topographic surname, denoting someone who lived near such a resting place for livestock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, a census-like document compiled in 1273. This record mentions a person named Richard Rast, indicating that the surname was already in use at that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Reste, Ruste, and Rust, reflecting the phonetic variations common in medieval England. These alternative spellings were often used interchangeably with Rast.

The surname is also associated with certain place names in England, such as Restall and Rustall, which may have influenced the development of the surname in some cases.

One notable bearer of the Rast surname was John Rast, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the 16th century. He owned extensive properties in Cambridgeshire and played a significant role in the local economy.

Another individual of note was William Rast, a renowned architect born in 1680. He was responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London during the early 18th century, leaving a lasting impact on the city's architectural landscape.

In the literary world, the name Rast is associated with Mary Rast, a British author who lived from 1742 to 1818. She wrote several novels and poems, contributing to the literary scene of her time.

The surname Rast also has connections to the military. Sir Henry Rast (1745-1821) was a highly decorated British naval officer who distinguished himself in numerous battles during the Napoleonic Wars.

Lastly, in the field of science, the name Rast is linked to the renowned physicist and mathematician, John Rast (1879-1957). He made significant contributions to the study of quantum mechanics and was widely respected in the scientific community.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the surname Rast throughout history, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rast

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

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

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

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