Explore the Family Name Modest
The meaning of Modest
German and East African (Tanzania): from the personal name Modest, from Latin Modestus, from the adjective modestus ‘reserved, gentle, virtuous’. The name Modestus was borne by several early Christian saints, including a child martyred at Alexandria, Egypt, and an 8th-century evangelist of Carinthia.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Modest in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Modest has seen a rise in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Modest was ranked as the 66,274th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had risen to 63,068th, marking a 4.84% increase in rank. The census also indicated that the number of individuals with the Modest surname increased by 13.62% during this period, growing from 279 to 317. Thus, for every 100,000 people, there was an approximate increase of 0.01% individuals bearing the Modest name.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #66,274 | #63,068 | 4.84% |
| Count | 279 | 317 | 13.62% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.11 | 10% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Modest
Looking at the ethnicity associated with the Modest surname according to the Decennial U.S. Census, there's been notable fluctuation between 2000 and 2010. The largest ethnic group remained consistent, with Black making up 75.63% of those with the surname in 2000, though this decreased slightly to 72.56% in 2010. The Hispanic population with the Modest surname showed a significant growth of 126.29%, going from 2.51% to 5.68%. White individuals bearing the Modest name saw a minor decrease from 17.92% to 17.35%. Those identified as belonging to two or more races made up 3.23% in 2000, increasing to 3.79% in 2010. No identifiable Modest individuals were listed under Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native categories in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 75.63% | 72.56% | -4.06% |
| White | 17.92% | 17.35% | -3.18% |
| Hispanic | 2.51% | 5.68% | 126.29% |
| Two or More Races | 3.23% | 3.79% | 17.34% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |