Liston
Derived from a place name meaning "at the enclosed settlement" in Old English.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,690 Americans carry the last name Liston. That puts it at #6,877 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.66 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 60,238 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Liston surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.7K
1 in 60,238
Census rank
#6,877
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,888 bearers of the surname Liston in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.66 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6877th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Liston, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Black (6.3%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Liston
The surname Liston originates from Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from a place name, likely originating from the Old English words "hlithe" meaning a slope or hill, and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the records of Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1296, as "Walter de Liston."
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for places with similar names, such as "Listuna" and "Liston." These entries suggest that the name was already established in England before spreading to Scotland.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Liston was Sir Robert Liston (1742-1836), a British diplomat who served as the ambassador to the United States from 1796 to 1800. Another notable figure was Robert Liston (1794-1847), a Scottish surgeon who is considered one of the pioneers of modern surgery. He is credited with performing the first surgical operation using anesthesia in 1846.
In the 18th century, the Liston family were prominent landowners in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Their ancestral seat was Liston House, a historic estate that dates back to the 16th century. Sir William Liston (1672-1737) was a Scottish politician and judge who served as Lord Justice Clerk, one of the highest judicial offices in Scotland at the time.
During the American Revolutionary War, Sir Robert Liston (1742-1836), mentioned earlier, played a crucial role as a diplomatic envoy for the British government. He helped negotiate the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation with the United States in 1794, which established trade relations between the two countries.
Another notable figure was Sir Ralph Liston (1785-1857), a British naval officer and diplomat who served as the Governor of the Ionian Islands (now part of Greece) from 1849 to 1851. He was instrumental in establishing British rule in the region and promoting economic and social reforms.
These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Liston who have left their mark on history. The name has its roots in Scotland and has been associated with notable figures in diplomacy, medicine, politics, and the military over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Liston
Among Census respondents with the surname Liston, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Black (6.3%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Liston bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Liston surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.2%
- Black or African American6.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Liston surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,620 | #6,877 | -3.9% |
| Count | 4,715 | 4,888 | 3.7% |
| Per 100K | 1.75 | 1.66 | -5.1% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Liston bearers went from 4,715 to 4,888 (+3.7% change). The surname moved down 257 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,620 to #6,877.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Liston
FAQ
Liston surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Liston?
The surname Liston holds position #6,877 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,690 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.66 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Liston surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Liston, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Black (6.3%) and Hispanic (2.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.