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

Hostler, 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 Hostler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hostler in America

Hostler is the 23472nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hostler surname appeared 1,083 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 Hostler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hostler to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Hostler

The surname Hostler is an occupational name that originated in England, derived from the Old French word "hostelier" or "hosteller," which meant an innkeeper or the keeper of a hostel or inn. This name dates back to the medieval period when inns and hostels were common places for travelers to find lodging and refreshments.

Hostlers were responsible for tending to the horses and stables of these establishments, ensuring the animals were properly fed, watered, and groomed. As the profession of hostler became more specialized, the name evolved to refer specifically to those who cared for horses at inns and taverns.

The earliest known record of the surname Hostler can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from the year 1273, where a person named Robert le Hostiler is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Hosteler, Hostiler, and Hostelere, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time. One notable example is John Hosteler, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1379.

During the 16th century, the surname Hostler became more standardized in its spelling, and it began to appear in parish records and other historical documents across England. One individual of note is Thomas Hostler, a merchant from London, who was mentioned in the records of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in 1567.

As the name spread across different regions of England, it also became associated with certain place names. For instance, there is a village called Hostle Hurst in Cheshire, which may have influenced the surname's development in that area.

Notable individuals with the surname Hostler include John Hostler (1609-1673), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge from 1660 to 1673. Another prominent figure was Robert Hostler (1765-1834), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, the surname Hostler was carried by individuals such as William Hostler (1801-1877), an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Hostler Charity in Nottinghamshire, and James Hostler (1827-1899), a British engineer and inventor known for his contributions to the development of steam engines.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hostler

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

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 Hostler 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Hostler has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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