Loston
Likely derived from the Old French "lost" meaning "praise," suggesting it originally referred to someone who was praiseworthy or admirable.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 343 Americans carry the last name Loston. That puts it at #65,424 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 999,284 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Loston 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
343
1 in 999,284
Census rank
#65,424
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
303
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 303 bearers of the surname Loston in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 65424th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Loston, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.4%. The next largest groups are White (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Loston
The surname LOSTON is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a now-lost or unidentified place name, potentially with Anglo-Saxon or Old English roots. Some scholars suggest the name may be related to the Old English words "locc" meaning a lock or enclosure, and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement, indicating the name could have originated from a place meaning "the enclosed farm or settlement."
One of the earliest known records of the name LOSTON can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1195, where a Richard de Loston is mentioned. This provides evidence that the name was present in England as early as the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273 mention a John de Loston, suggesting the name had spread to different regions of England by that time.
The LOSTON surname can also be found in the Hertfordshire Assize Rolls from 1324, where a William de Loston is recorded. This further reinforces the presence of the name in various parts of England during the Middle Ages.
One notable historical figure with the surname LOSTON was Sir John Loston (c.1480-1556), who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the early 16th century during the reign of King Henry VIII.
Another individual of note was Richard Loston (c.1520-1588), a prominent merchant and landowner in Wiltshire, England, who played a role in the local affairs of his community during the Elizabethan era.
In the 17th century, a certain Thomas Loston (1625-1693) was a respected clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Hartley Wespall in Hampshire.
Moving into the 18th century, the name appears in the records of the English East India Company, with a Captain James Loston (1710-1782) serving as a prominent naval officer and navigator during that period.
Finally, one of the more recent historical figures with the LOSTON surname was William Loston (1825-1892), a renowned architect and civil engineer who contributed to the design and construction of several notable buildings and structures in London during the Victorian era.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Loston
Among Census respondents with the surname Loston, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.4%. The next largest groups are White (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Loston 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 Loston surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American90.4%
- White5.0%
- Two or more races3.0%
- Hispanic or Latino1.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Loston 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 | #64,572 | #65,424 | -1.3% |
| Count | 288 | 303 | 5.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.10 | -9.1% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Loston bearers went from 288 to 303 (+5.2% change). The surname moved down 852 positions in the national ranking, going from #64,572 to #65,424.
FAQ
Loston surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Loston?
The surname Loston holds position #65,424 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 343 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Loston surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Loston, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.4%. The next largest groups are White (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%). 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.