Explore the Family Name Castellan

The meaning of Castellan

1. Italian (northeastern): variant of Castellano. 2. Americanized form of Croatian Kaštelan or of its variant Kastelan: occupational name from kaštelan ‘castellan, fortress commander’, also ‘warden of a prison’. Compare Castelan 2. 3. French (southern): variant of Castella, a southern variant of Châtelain ‘lord (of the manor)’; see Chatelain. In part, it is probably of Italian origin (see Castellano, compare 1 above). 4. English: variant of Castellain, either a status or occupational name from Middle English castelain ‘governor or constable of a castle’, also ‘warden of a prison’ (Old French castelain, chastelain), or a habitational name of Norman origin from Castellion in Eure (France). This surname is rare in Britain.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Castellan in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Castellan witnessed a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Castellan ranked as the 69,428th most popular surname, but fell to the rank of 77,012 in 2010, amounting to a change of -10.92. The frequency of this surname also dwindled during this period, with the count decreasing from 264 to 249, marking a -5.68 change. The proportion per 100k people also decreased by 20.0%, showcasing an overall decrease in the popularity of the surname.

20002010Change
Rank#69,428#77,012-10.92%
Count264249-5.68%
Proportion per 100k0.10.08-20%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Castellan

As for the ethnic identity associated with the surname Castellan according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, there were some significant shifts between 2000 and 2010. While the percentage of those identifying as White with the Castellan surname decreased from 65.53% to 51.41% (-21.55), there was a marked increase in the number of Hispanic individuals carrying the surname from 31.44% to 42.97% (36.67). Similarly, the proportion of Black individuals bearing the surname increased from 2.65% to 4.82% (81.89). However, there was no recorded change in the number of Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native individuals with the surname, with the percentages remaining at zero for both years.

20002010Change
White65.53%51.41%-21.55%
Hispanic31.44%42.97%36.67%
Black2.65%4.82%81.89%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
Two or More Races0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%