Explore the Family Name Bester
The meaning of Bester
1. English: occupational name for someone who looked after animals, such as a herdsman, from Middle English bestere, apparently a derivative of Middle English beste ‘beast’ (see Best 2). 2. German: variant of Beste 1. 3. Slovenian (Bešter): probably a variant of Vester 3, from a shortened form of the personal name Silvester.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bester in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Bester significantly increased in popularity between 2000 and 2010. It rose in ranking from 16,525 in the year 2000 to 15,147 in 2010, a relative change of 8.34%. In this same period, the count of individuals with the Bester surname also grew from 1,601 to 1,947, marking a notable increase of 21.61%. The proportion per 100,000 people saw a rise of 11.86%, indicating that the usage of the surname Bester expanded across the population.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,525 | #15,147 | 8.34% |
| Count | 1,601 | 1,947 | 21.61% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.59 | 0.66 | 11.86% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bester
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Bester also experienced changes between 2000 and 2010 as evidenced by the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, no people identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native had the Bester surname. However, by 2010, these groups accounted for 0.31% and 0.51%, respectively. Those identifying with two or more races marked an increase of 24.85%. Meanwhile, there was a growth of 14.66% among white individuals bearing the Bester surname. On the other hand, a decrease was observed among Hispanic (-12.77%) and Black (-8.01%) populations holding the Bester surname during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 64.15% | 59.01% | -8.01% |
| White | 32.48% | 37.24% | 14.66% |
| Two or More Races | 1.69% | 2.11% | 24.85% |
| Hispanic | 0.94% | 0.82% | -12.77% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.51% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.31% | 0% |