Astor

Meaning of Astor

Astor is a masculine appellation of Anglo-American usage, whose etymological origin lies in the Old French term astor—denoting the hawk—and which, through its Germanic antecedent, served initially as an occupational or descriptive surname for those engaged in falconry. The name’s most salient cultural resonance derives from the ascendancy of the Anglo-American Astor dynasty, founded by John Jacob Astor in the late eighteenth century, whose commercial success in the fur trade and subsequent social prominence in both New York and European high society imbued the appellation with connotations of affluence and distinction. In modern American onomastic patterns, Astor remains comparatively rare yet demonstrates a gradual resurgence, with 26 recorded occurrences in 2024 (ranked 898th), increasing from 14 in 2023 (915th) and 11 in 2022 (932nd). In English, the name is pronounced AS-tor (/ˈæstər/), combining acoustic clarity with a legacy of understated refinement.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as AS-tor (/ˈæstər/)

• Aston
• Archer
• Asher
• Astin