Find out how popular the last name Alabaster is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Alabaster.

Alabaster, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Alabaster surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alabaster in America

Alabaster is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alabaster surname appeared 101 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Alabaster.

The history of the last name Alabaster

The surname Alabaster is an English occupational name derived from the Old French word "alabastre," which in turn comes from the Late Latin "alabastrum" and ultimately from the Greek "alabastros." The Greek word referred to a type of stone or mineral used for making vases and ornaments. The name Alabaster originated as an occupational surname for someone who worked with alabaster stone, either as a sculptor, carver, or seller of alabaster objects.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Alabaster can be found in English records dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Alabastre, who was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273. Another early record is that of John Alabastre, who was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

During the medieval period, the surname Alabaster was primarily concentrated in the counties of Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, which were areas known for their alabaster quarries and production of alabaster objects. The name may have originated in these regions due to the prevalence of the alabaster trade.

In the 14th century, the surname Alabaster appeared in the Domesday Book, a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name was recorded in various forms, including Alabastere, Alabastre, and Albastre.

One notable individual with the surname Alabaster was William Alabaster (1567-1640), an English poet, playwright, and religious writer. He was born in Hadleigh, Suffolk, and is best known for his poem "Roxana" and his work "The Liturgy of the Church of England."

Another prominent figure was William Alabaster (1619-1689), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford. He was born in Hadleigh, Suffolk, and published several religious works.

In the 17th century, the name Alabaster was also associated with a prominent family from Derbyshire. Thomas Alabaster (1604-1675) was a landowner and Member of Parliament for Derbyshire, while his son, Thomas Alabaster (1633-1706), also served as a Member of Parliament.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Gulielmus Alabaster (1567-1640), a Latin poet and scholar who was born in Suffolk. He authored several works on theology and philosophy, including "Ecce Sponsus Venit" and "Spiraculum Tubae."

The surname Alabaster has a rich history rooted in the English alabaster trade and has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, including literature, religion, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alabaster

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Alabaster.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Alabaster was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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