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

Just, 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 Just surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Just in America

Just is the 8710th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Just surname appeared 3,769 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Just.

We can also compare 2010 data for Just 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 Just

The surname JUST is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "juste," meaning "righteous" or "just." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who was known for their fair and honest behavior.

In medieval times, it was common for surnames to arise from personal qualities, occupations, or physical characteristics. The JUST surname may have been initially bestowed upon an individual who was perceived as upright and equitable in their dealings with others.

One of the earliest known references to the JUST surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273. This historical document recorded the name as "Justus" and "le Juste," indicating that the surname was in use during that period.

In the 14th century, the JUST surname appeared in various records across England. John Just was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, while a Thomas Just was recorded in the Corpus Christi Guild Rolls of York in 1399.

During the 16th century, the surname JUST became more widespread across different regions of England. Notable individuals bearing this name included William Just, a merchant from Exeter who lived from 1505 to 1572, and Thomas Just, a clergyman and author who lived from 1550 to 1628.

In the 17th century, the JUST surname gained prominence with individuals such as Sir John Just, a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Truro, Cornwall, who lived from 1597 to 1681. Another notable figure was William Just, an English minister and theologian who authored several religious works and lived from 1615 to 1675.

As the surname spread across England, it also evolved into various spellings, including Juste, Joust, and Jowst. These variations can be found in historical records and may be related to regional dialects or scribal errors.

Some notable individuals with the JUST surname throughout history include:

1. John Just (1639-1721), an English banker and Member of Parliament for Taunton.
2. Samuel Just (1766-1829), an English businessman and philanthropist who established the Just Lectureship in Natural and Experimental Philosophy at Oxford University.
3. Jacob Just (1811-1887), a German-American painter and lithographer known for his landscapes and portraits.
4. Mary Just (1878-1962), an American educator and activist who fought for women's rights and founded the National Association of Women Lawyers.
5. Walter Just (1901-1987), a German-American writer and journalist who covered World War II and wrote extensively on political and social issues.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Just

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

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

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

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