Explore the Family Name Bast
The meaning of Bast
1. German, Dutch, and French (Alsace and Lorraine, of German origin): from a short form of the personal name German Sebastian, Dutch Sebastiaan. 2. French (mainly Sarthe): from bast ‘saddle pad for a beast of burden’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such saddles or a nickname.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bast in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Bast has seen slight fluctuations over a decade. In 2000, the surname ranked 11,810 in popularity with a count of 2,429 individuals bearing it. By 2010, though, the rank of this surname had slipped to 12,192, a change that denotes a 3.23% decrease in its standing among all surnames. However, despite the drop in ranking, the actual number of people named Bast increased by 5.19% to reach 2,555 by 2010. This means the proportion of people named Bast per 100k in the population decreased slightly from 0.9 in 2000 to 0.87 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,810 | #12,192 | -3.23% |
| Count | 2,429 | 2,555 | 5.19% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.9 | 0.87 | -3.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bast
When analyzing the ethnic identity associated with the surname Bast, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there have been notable changes between 2000 and 2010. The most significant change can be seen within the Asian/Pacific Islander community, where the percentage of Bast holders surged from 0.37% to 2.74%. The Hispanic community also saw an increase in Basts, going from 1.69% to 2.74%. Meanwhile, the percentage of people with this surname who identify as White decreased from 95.39% to 92.25%, and those identifying as two or more races also saw a slight decline from 0.86% to 0.74%. The percentage of Basts who are Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native also experienced reductions at 4.35% and 20.37% respectively.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.39% | 92.25% | -3.29% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.37% | 2.74% | 640.54% |
| Hispanic | 1.69% | 2.74% | 62.13% |
| Black | 1.15% | 1.1% | -4.35% |
| Two or More Races | 0.86% | 0.74% | -13.95% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.54% | 0.43% | -20.37% |