Find out how popular the first name Liston has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Liston by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Liston is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Liston.

The history of the first name Liston

The name Liston originated from the Old English language, derived from the word "listen," which means "to hear" or "to listen." It first emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Liston can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England conducted in 1086 under the reign of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Listuna," referring to a place name derived from the Old English words "hlyste" (listen) and "tun" (enclosure or settlement).

During the Middle Ages, the name Liston was primarily used as a surname, referring to individuals who hailed from a place called Liston or Listuna. It wasn't until the late 16th or early 17th century that Liston began to be used as a given name, possibly influenced by the growing popularity of biblical and saint names during the Protestant Reformation.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the first name Liston was Liston Blakeman, an English merchant and landowner who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Another notable figure was Liston Dickson (1770-1825), a Scottish-born American lawyer and politician who served as a representative in the United States Congress.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence with individuals such as Liston Oakley (1825-1901), an American politician and lawyer who served as a judge in California. Liston Ramsdell (1853-1921) was a Baptist minister and educator who served as the president of Baylor University in Texas.

One of the most famous individuals with the name Liston was Sonny Liston (1932-1970), an American professional boxer who held the world heavyweight championship from 1962 to 1964. He was known for his powerful punches and intimidating presence in the ring, and his fights against Muhammad Ali were among the most highly anticipated and controversial boxing matches of the 20th century.

While the name Liston has its roots in Old English and was initially used as a surname, it has evolved over the centuries to become a distinctive given name with a rich historical background, spanning various cultures and disciplines.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Liston was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Liston, please contact us.

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