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

Luster, 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 Luster surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Luster in America

Luster is the 4823rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Luster surname appeared 7,316 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Luster.

We can also compare 2010 data for Luster 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 Luster

The surname Luster originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "lust," which meant "pleasure" or "delight." Over time, the word took on the meaning of "desire" or "lust," and the surname came to be associated with those who worked in pleasurable or luxurious trades, such as dyers, weavers, or makers of fine cloth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Luster can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a person named Luster residing in the village of Walsingham, Norfolk.

During the 13th century, the name appears in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Robert Luster from Oxfordshire. In the 14th century, the surname is found in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which includes a John Luster from Yorkshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Luster include Sir John Luster (1567-1638), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. Another prominent figure was William Luster (1623-1698), a celebrated English botanist and author of the book "The Herbal" published in 1670.

In the 18th century, the Luster family established themselves as prominent landowners in the county of Gloucestershire. One of their ancestors, Thomas Luster (1712-1790), was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and schools in the region.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Luster (1789-1867), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of the first schools for girls in London and was a vocal supporter of the suffrage movement.

During the 19th century, the Luster surname gained prominence in the United States, with many immigrants from England settling in various parts of the country. One notable American Luster was James Luster (1821-1894), a businessman and politician who served as the mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, from 1875 to 1879.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable individuals associated with the surname Luster. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread across the globe, leaving its mark on various communities and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Luster

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

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

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

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