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

Lister, 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 Lister surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lister in America

Lister is the 4250th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lister surname appeared 8,350 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 Lister.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lister 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 Lister

The surname Lister is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "lister," meaning a dyer or one who colored cloth. The name is believed to have originated in the Northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where the textile industry flourished.

In the early 13th century, the name Lister appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, indicating the presence of individuals involved in the dyeing trade. One of the earliest recorded instances is from 1219, mentioning a certain Richard le Lister.

The Domesday Book, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not explicitly mention the surname Lister. However, it does reference place names like Lister in Yorkshire, which may have contributed to the surname's development.

During the 14th century, the surname Lister began to solidify, with mentions in various historical documents. One notable figure was John Lister (c.1328-1399), a prominent merchant and wool trader from Wakefield, Yorkshire. His successful business dealings contributed to the family's wealth and standing.

In the 16th century, the Lister family gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Lister (1512-1587), a renowned English physician and author. He is best known for his treatise "De Teredine Navali" (On the Ship-Worm), published in 1597, which discussed the wood-boring mollusks that damaged wooden ships.

Another notable figure was Martin Lister (1638-1712), a renowned naturalist and physician. Born in Radcliffe, Lancashire, he made significant contributions to the study of mollusks, fossils, and natural history. His works, such as "Historiae Animalium Angliae" (History of English Animals), were highly influential in the field of taxonomy.

In the 18th century, Joseph Lister (1720-1790), a prominent Quaker and naturalist, gained recognition for his observations and writings on various subjects, including botany, zoology, and geology. He is remembered for his work "Conchylionum Bivalvium" (On Bivalve Shells), published in 1685.

Joseph Lister (1827-1912), a celebrated English surgeon, pioneered antiseptic methods in medical procedures, significantly reducing post-operative infections. His contributions to the field of surgery earned him worldwide recognition and the title of "Father of Modern Surgery."

The surname Lister continues to be prevalent in various parts of the world, with notable individuals bearing this name across different fields, such as science, literature, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lister

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

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

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

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