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

List, 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 List surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of List in America

List is the 8623rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The List surname appeared 3,814 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 List.

We can also compare 2010 data for List 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 List

The surname List originated in Germany, where it is thought to have first appeared in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old High German word "list", meaning "cunning" or "clever". It is believed to have originally been a nickname given to someone who was particularly intelligent or resourceful.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name List can be found in a document from the city of Mainz, dated 1235, which mentions a person named Henricus List. Another early record is from the town of Erfurt in 1289, which refers to a Conradus List.

During the Middle Ages, the name List began to spread beyond its original region and can be found in various historical records across Germany. For example, a Johannes List is mentioned in a document from the city of Cologne in 1367, while a Petrus List is recorded in a manuscript from Nuremberg in 1428.

As the name List became more widespread, it also began to appear in different spellings and variations, such as Lyste, Lijst, and Lyst. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the individual preferences of scribes and record-keepers.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname List was Johannes List, a German scholar and humanist who lived from around 1435 to 1499. He was a professor of philosophy and theology at the University of Leipzig and was known for his writings on logic and ethics.

Another notable person with the surname List was Friedrich List, a German economist and political philosopher who lived from 1789 to 1846. He is considered one of the founders of the German historical school of economics and is best known for his advocacy of protectionist trade policies to promote industrial development.

In the realm of art, the surname List is associated with Wilhelm List, a German painter who lived from 1864 to 1918. He was a prominent member of the Munich Secession movement and is known for his landscapes and portraiture.

Moving into the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname List was Field Marshal Wilhelm List, a German military commander who lived from 1880 to 1971. He played a significant role in World War II and was convicted of war crimes at the Nuremberg trials.

Finally, a more recent figure with the surname List is Eva List, an Austrian actress who was born in 1939. She has appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career and is known for her work in both German and English-language productions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name List

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

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

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

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