Explore the Family Name Kerstein
The meaning of Kerstein
1. German: from a variant of the personal name Christian, with metathesis of the -r- and a folk-etymological component -stein ‘stone’, influenced by names such as Kirschstein ‘cherry stone (pit)’. 2. German: possibly also a variant of Karstein, a habitational name from the name of a manor near Elberfeld (Rhineland). 3. Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Kirstein. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Golde, Itzhak, Moshe.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kerstein in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Kerstein has slightly declined over the past decade. In 2000, Kerstein was ranked 42,830th most common surname in the United States, but by 2010 it had slipped to 48,060th. This represents a change of -12.21%. Looking at the number count, there were approximately 476 individuals with the Kerstein surname in 2000 and this figure dropped to around 440 by 2010, a decrease of about 7.56%. When measured proportionally per 100k individuals, the frequency of Kerstein also declined by around 16.67%, from 0.18 in 2000 to 0.15 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #42,830 | #48,060 | -12.21% |
| Count | 476 | 440 | -7.56% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.18 | 0.15 | -16.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kerstein
Examining the ethnicity associated with the Kerstein surname, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, reveals some interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. The largest ethnic identity group remains White, which saw a slight increase from 94.33% to 95.45%. The proportion of Asian/Pacific Islanders with the Kerstein surname nearly doubled, although it still represents a small percentage of the overall total, increasing from 1.05% to 2.05%. The Hispanic population saw a modest growth from 1.05% to 1.14%. However, those identifying as two or more races, who made up 2.73% of people with the Kerstein surname in 2000, disappeared entirely from the 2010 census. The Black population, as well as the American Indian and Alaskan Native populations, remained negligible or non-existent during both census periods.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.33% | 95.45% | 1.19% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.05% | 2.05% | 95.24% |
| Hispanic | 1.05% | 1.14% | 8.57% |
| Two or More Races | 2.73% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |