Surname Kesten - Meaning and Origin
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Kesten: What does the surname Kesten mean?
Kesten is a surname of German-Jewish origin, derived from the Middle High German word "Kesten," meaning "chestnut tree" or "fruit of a chestnut tree." This surname was likely adopted by families whose surname was originally something else, but who then chose to take the name of the tree as their own.
This surname may also have originated with families who cultivated chestnut trees or sold chestnuts as a profession. It was also adopted by families who found sanctuary in Germany from the Spanish or Portuguese Inquisition, as well as some Dutch immigrants.
Kesten is common among Jewish people from Germany and Eastern Europe. The name also crops up occasionally in France, the Netherlands, as well as in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The family name Kesten is an interesting one, with quite a lot of history behind it! Its roots suggest strength, stability, and resilience. It’s certainly an interesting name to pass down for generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKesten: Where does the name Kesten come from?
The last name Kesten is commonly found throughout Europe today, particularly in Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands. In Germany, it's recorded as Kesten, Kestin, and Kisten, while Kesten and Kessen have been documented in the Netherlands. In Poland, the spelling variation is Kęsten. The surname is likely derived from the old Germanic name Kestin, which is thought to derive from a personal name meaning “burnt wood” or “charcoal.”
Kesten is one of the more old-fashioned surnames still in use today, and many European families with this surname trace their ancestry to the Middle Ages or earlier. In fact, the oldest documented record of the surname dates back to 1285, when a Kestin de Rubeus was recorded in southern Germany. In recent centuries, many families with the Kesten surname have adopted other regional surnames, and today it is still found all over Europe.
In the United States, the surname Kesten isn’t very common. However, it is known to have been brought to the States by German and Dutch immigrants. Surprisingly, the surname is found to have recently spread to South Africa, where ethnic Germans and Jews from Europe settled in the 19th century. Many South Africans with the Kesten surname likely began their family ancestry in Germany or the Netherlands.
In conclusion, the surname Kesten is still common across Europe today, particularly in Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands. It is also found in the United States and South Africa, where it was brought to by German and Dutch immigrants in previous centuries.
Variations of the surname Kesten
The surname Kesten has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include:
-Kestenbaum: This is a German and Jewish name which is derived from the Yiddish word kestn, meaning “chestnut”. The name is primarily found in Central Europe.
-Keasten: This variant of Kesten is of English origin, derived from the Middle English term kystane, which in turn comes from the Latin name Castanea.
-Keisten: This is a Dutch variation of the surname Kesten, derived from the Middle Dutch word kijstelen, which means “chestnuts”.
-Kasten: This is a German variation of Kesten, and is derived from the word kasten, meaning “boxes”.
-Kiestern: This is another German variant of the surname, derived from the term kisten, which translates as “boxes”.
-Kestene: This is an English variation of the surname, derived from the Middle English word kystene, which also meant “chestnut”.
-Kestin: This is a Scottish variant of the surname, derived from the Gaelic word ciasdan, which translates as “chestnut”.
-Keston: This variant of the surname is of English origin. It derives from the town of Keston in Kent, England, coming from the Old English word cestun, meaning “a Viking fortress”.
The surname Kesten itself is derived from the Middle High German word kiestil, which translates as “chestnut”. It is a very old surname, and is found in Central Europe, England, Netherlands, and Germany.
Famous people with the name Kesten
- Andy Kestenbaum: American actor who has appeared in numerous films and TV shows.
- Howard Kesten: American author of several books, including the popular heartwarming tale of a young autistic girl in The Orchard Keeper Daughter.
- Mark Kesten: Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of millionaire dating website, MillionaireMate.com.
- Sheyna Kesten: American-born actress and playwright.
- Steve Kesten: Canadian-born veteran actor and television director known for his appearances in cult classic films such as The Beach and Fool for Love.
- Yitzchok Kesten: Yiddish author and journalist.
- Michael Kesten: Emmy Award-winning American television and movie scriptwriter, producer, and director.
- Chaim Kesten: 19th century Lithuanian-born rabbi and Torah commentator.
- Isidore Kesten: Romanian-born Jewish refugee and Holocaust survivor who adopted a new identity in France after World War II.
- Arthur Kesten: German-born writer and journalist who wrote about politics and Jewish issues.