Sharpsteen
A surname deriving from dwellers near a steep slope or cliff.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Sharpsteen. That puts it at #59,470 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sharpsteen surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#59,470
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
340
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 340 bearers of the surname Sharpsteen in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 59470th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sharpsteen, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sharpsteen
The surname Sharpsteen is of Dutch origin, with its earliest known roots tracing back to the 17th century in the Netherlands. The name is believed to have derived from the Dutch words "scherp" meaning sharp or pointed, and "steen" meaning stone, potentially referring to an occupation or place associated with the sharpening of stones or the presence of sharp stones.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sharpsteen surname can be found in the Dutch Reformed Church records of New Amsterdam (modern-day New York City) in the late 1600s. This suggests that the name was likely carried over to the New World by Dutch settlers during the colonial era.
In the United Kingdom, variations of the name such as Sharpston and Sharpstone appear in historical records dating back to the 16th century, potentially indicating a shared linguistic origin with the Dutch version of the name.
Notable individuals bearing the Sharpsteen surname include Johannes Sharpsteen (1637-1714), one of the earliest recorded members of the family in the New World, who settled in what is now Brooklyn, New York. Another prominent figure was Reverend Samuel Sharpsteen (1761-1845), an American Presbyterian minister and educator who served as the principal of the Latin School in Philadelphia.
John Sharpsteen (1820-1892) was a respected farmer and landowner in Oneida County, New York, while William Sharpsteen (1874-1949) was a successful businessman and philanthropist in Los Angeles, California, known for his contributions to the city's cultural institutions.
Lastly, Robert Sharpsteen (1912-1992) was an American animator and film director who worked for Walt Disney Studios, contributing to classic animated films such as Pinocchio and Bambi.
While the Sharpsteen surname may have evolved over time and spread across different regions, its Dutch origins and potential occupational or geographical associations have remained a consistent theme throughout its documented history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sharpsteen
Among Census respondents with the surname Sharpsteen, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%.
The bar chart below shows how Sharpsteen bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sharpsteen surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sharpsteen surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #59,470 | #59,470 | 0.0% |
| Count | 340 | 340 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Sharpsteen bearers went from 340 to 340 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #59,470 to #59,470.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sharpsteen
FAQ
Sharpsteen surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sharpsteen?
The surname Sharpsteen holds position #59,470 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sharpsteen surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sharpsteen, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.