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

Zaste, 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 Zaste surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaste in America

Zaste is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaste surname appeared 102 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 Zaste.

The history of the last name Zaste

The surname Zaste has its origins in Central Europe, specifically within the regions that are now part of modern-day Germany and Poland. Tracing back to the medieval period, the name Zaste is believed to have emerged around the 12th century. Linguistically, it is thought to be derived from the Old High German word "zast," which means "twig" or "bough." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone living near a prominent tree or forest, or perhaps even someone who worked in forestry or woodcutting.

One of the earliest records of the surname Zaste can be found in a 13th-century manuscript in the region of Lower Saxony, Germany. The name appears in the records of a minor landholding family, who were likely involved in agricultural pursuits. The name's spelling has largely remained consistent over time, with minor variations such as Zast or Zasthe appearing infrequently in historical documents.

The Zaste family name continued to be recorded in various documents and registries throughout the centuries. Notably, Ulrich Zaste (born circa 1450) was a landowner in Brandenburg and is mentioned in tax records from the late 15th century. His descendants continued to inhabit the region for many generations, contributing to local governance and agricultural development.

In the 16th century, the surname Zaste appears in church records in the Silesian region, with a prominent figure being Martin Zaste (1517-1584), who was noted for his work in the early Protestant Reformation. Martin Zaste was a close associate of other reformers and played a significant role in the religious transformation of the area.

A notable bearer of the surname in the 18th century was Johann Friedrich Zaste (1732-1791), a composer and musician who contributed to the cultural enrichment of Prussian society. His works were well-documented and performed in various courtly settings, though some of his compositions have unfortunately been lost to time.

In the 19th century, the name Zaste found its way into academic circles with Ernst Wilhelm Zaste (1820-1887), a historian and philologist who published several influential papers on the history of the Teutonic Knights. His research provided invaluable insights into medieval Germanic history and remains a reference for scholars even today.

Another individual of note is Karl Zaste (1845-1902), an early industrialist who played a pivotal role in the coal mining industry in the Ruhr Valley. His leadership and innovations in mining techniques greatly improved the efficiency and safety of coal extraction during the Industrial Revolution.

The surname Zaste, while not exceedingly common, represents a lineage rich in history and contributions to society. From its origins in medieval forestry to significant roles in religious reform, music, academia, and industry, the bearers of the name have left an indelible mark on European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaste

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

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

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

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