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

Distor, 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 Distor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Distor in America

Distor is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Distor surname appeared 106 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 Distor.

The history of the last name Distor

The surname "DISTOR" has its origins in medieval England, with the earliest records dating back to the late 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "distor," which referred to a person who was employed as a distiller or brewer of alcoholic beverages.

During the Middle Ages, the brewing and distilling of ale, mead, and other alcoholic drinks was a crucial industry, and those involved in the trade often adopted occupational surnames related to their profession. The name "DISTOR" was likely first used as a descriptive term to identify individuals who worked as distillers or brewers.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1194, where a certain William Distor is mentioned as a taxpayer. This indicates that the name was already established by the late 12th century in the region of Gloucestershire.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1275, where a John Distor is listed as a landholder. Another early bearer of the name was Robert Distor, who is mentioned in the Court Rolls of Suffolk in 1287.

The name "DISTOR" was not limited to a specific region of England and could be found in various counties throughout the country. For instance, a notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir Thomas Distor (c. 1520 - 1585), a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another early bearer of the name was William Distor (c. 1550 - 1620), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the Elizabethan era. He was involved in the lucrative trade with the Netherlands and amassed considerable wealth.

In the 17th century, the name appears in connection with the village of Distor in Wiltshire, which may have derived its name from an early bearer of the surname. A notable figure from this period was John Distor (1635 - 1702), a successful farmer and landowner in the county of Wiltshire.

As the centuries progressed, the name "DISTOR" continued to be found throughout various regions of England, with bearers of the surname making their mark in various professions and walks of life. One notable figure from the 19th century was Sir Henry Distor (1825 - 1901), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London and other parts of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Distor

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

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 Distor 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 Distor was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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