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

Laster, 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 Laster surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Laster in America

Laster is the 3847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Laster surname appeared 9,202 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Laster.

We can also compare 2010 data for Laster 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 Laster

The surname Laster is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "læstan," meaning "to follow" or "to last." It is believed to have emerged as an occupational surname in the Middle Ages, referring to a servant or attendant who followed or assisted a person of higher rank.

The earliest known record of the name Laster can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1195, where it appears as "Walter le Laster." This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 12th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name was commonly found in various forms, such as Lestere, Lestare, and Lestour, reflecting the varying spellings and pronunciations of the era. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, the name appears as "John le Lester," indicating its continued use as a occupational descriptor.

One notable bearer of the name was William Laster, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in several legal documents and property records from the period, including the Gloucestershire Feet of Fines from 1486.

In the 16th century, the surname Laster began to spread across England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Wiltshire, Somerset, and Norfolk. One prominent figure was Thomas Laster (c. 1520-1583), a Protestant clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable Lasters, including John Laster (1616-1689), a successful merchant and landowner in Dorset, and William Laster (1633-1701), a respected lawyer and judge who served as the Recorder of Gloucester.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Laster continued to be found across England, with notable individuals such as Samuel Laster (1751-1824), a renowned clockmaker from Worcestershire, and Emily Laster (1827-1908), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in London.

Throughout its history, the surname Laster has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who bore the name. While its origins lie in the role of a servant or attendant, the name has since been carried by merchants, clergymen, lawyers, craftsmen, and advocates for social change.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Laster

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

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

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

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