Marsters
An English surname derived from a variant of the occupation "marshaler".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 548 Americans carry the last name Marsters. That puts it at #46,487 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.16 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 625,464 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Marsters 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
548
1 in 625,464
Census rank
#46,487
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
458
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 458 bearers of the surname Marsters in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 46487th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Marsters, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.2%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Marsters
The surname Marsters originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English word "mære," meaning "famous" or "renowned," combined with the suffix "-ster," indicating an occupation or profession. The name likely referred to a person who was a messenger or herald, responsible for delivering important news or proclamations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Marester." This reference suggests that the name had already been established in England by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Marster" or "Marstere," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. The earliest known bearer of the name was Robert Marster, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.
During the medieval period, the Marsters family was particularly prominent in the counties of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. One notable figure was John Marsters, a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire, who lived in the late 14th century.
As the name spread across England, it underwent further variations in spelling, including "Marstar," "Marstare," and "Marsters." In the 16th century, the spelling "Marsters" became more widely adopted and has remained the predominant form to this day.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Marsters was Sir John Marsters (1524-1596), a prominent English lawyer and member of the Privy Council during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the legal and political affairs of the time.
Another notable figure was Captain Richard Marsters (1658-1732), a renowned English privateer and buccaneer who operated in the Caribbean during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His exploits were widely documented, and he amassed considerable wealth through his various raids and captures.
In the literary world, the name Marsters gained recognition through the works of Charles Dickens. One of the characters in his novel "Oliver Twist" was a member of the Marsters family, reflecting the author's familiarity with the surname.
Other notable bearers of the name include Sir William Marsters (1772-1853), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Sir John Marsters (1821-1904), a prominent British politician and Member of Parliament in the late 19th century.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Marsters
Among Census respondents with the surname Marsters, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.2%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Marsters 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 Marsters surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.6%
- Two or more races5.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Marsters 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #46,487 | #46,487 | 0.0% |
| Count | 458 | 458 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Marsters bearers went from 458 to 458 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #46,487 to #46,487.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Marsters
FAQ
Marsters surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Marsters?
The surname Marsters holds position #46,487 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 548 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Marsters surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Marsters, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.2%) and Hispanic (1.8%). 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.