Explore the Family Name Ast
The meaning of Ast
1. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German ast, German Ast ‘knot (in wood), branch’, hence a nickname for a tough or awkward individual or a metonymic occupational name for a lumberjack. As a Jewish name it is artificial. 2. North German: occupational name, from Middle Low German arste ‘physician’, a variant of Arzt. 3. German: habitational name from any of the places so named in Bavaria. 4. French (southern): from Occitan ast ‘pike’ or ‘lance’, probably an occupational name for a maker of these weapons. The surname is, however, most common in Alsace and Lorraine where it is no doubt of German origin (see above). Some characteristic forenames: German Erwin, Dieter, Gunter, Hans, Jurgen, Manfred, Trud.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ast in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Ast" has seen a slight decrease in popularity over a decade, ranking 22,538 in 2000 and 22,978 in 2010, a change of -1.95 percent. Despite the drop in rank, the actual count of individuals holding the surname increased from 1,065 to 1,113, indicating a growth of 4.51 percent during this period. The proportion of the name per 100,000 people also fell slightly from 0.39 to 0.38, marking a decline of -2.56 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,538 | #22,978 | -1.95% |
| Count | 1,065 | 1,113 | 4.51% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.38 | -2.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ast
In terms of ethnicity associated with the surname "Ast", there have been some noteworthy changes between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The percentage of individuals identifying as White fell from 95.77 to 94.07 percent, a marginal decrease of -1.78 percent. However, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic saw increases of 32.00 and 23.62 percent respectively, suggesting a growing diversity among bearers of the surname. There was a significant increase in individuals reporting two or more races, jumping from 0.56 to 1.26 percent, a rise of 125.00 percent. Meanwhile, there were no recorded instances of individuals identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.77% | 94.07% | -1.78% |
| Hispanic | 2.54% | 3.14% | 23.62% |
| Two or More Races | 0.56% | 1.26% | 125% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.75% | 0.99% | 32% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |