The name Lester has its origins in the Old English language. It is derived from the word "leasowe," which means a meadow or pasture. The name was popular in Anglo-Saxon England during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Lester can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions several individuals with the name, indicating its prevalence in that era.

During the Middle Ages, the name Lester was particularly common among the English gentry and landed families. It was often associated with rural landowners and those who owned or worked on meadows and pastures.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Lester was Lester of Normandy, a French nobleman and military leader who fought in the Third Crusade alongside Richard the Lionheart. He was born around 1160 and died in the early 13th century.

Another famous bearer of the name was Lester Piggott, a legendary English jockey who won numerous prestigious horse racing events, including the Epsom Derby nine times. He was born in 1935 and passed away in 2022.

Lester Pearson, a Canadian diplomat and politician, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his efforts in resolving the Suez Crisis. He served as the 14th Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968 and was born in 1897 and died in 1972.

Lester Young, an American jazz tenor saxophonist, was a prominent figure in the swing era. He was known for his distinctive playing style and innovative approach to improvisation. Young was born in 1909 and passed away in 1959.

Lester Bangs was an influential American music journalist and critic who wrote for publications like Creem, Rolling Stone, and The Village Voice. He was a prominent voice in the rock music scene of the 1960s and 1970s. Bangs was born in 1948 and died in 1982.