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

Master, 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 Master surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Master in America

Master is the 11502nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Master surname appeared 2,735 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Master.

We can also compare 2010 data for Master 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 Master

The surname MASTER is an occupational surname of English origin. It originated in the Middle Ages, derived from the Old English word 'māster', meaning a person of authority, skill, or knowledge. The name was initially given to those who held positions of leadership or mastery in various trades and professions.

The earliest recorded instances of the MASTER surname date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented bearers of the name was William le Master, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1275. The 'le' prefix was commonly used at the time to indicate a person's occupation or distinguishing characteristic.

In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1279, the name appears as 'Mastere', suggesting variations in spelling in different regions. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a Robert le Master, further demonstrating the surname's early usage.

The MASTER surname is also linked to several place names across England, such as Masterton in Nottinghamshire and Mastershill in Hertfordshire. These locations likely derived their names from early MASTER families who settled or held lands in those areas.

Notable historical figures with the MASTER surname include:

1. Robert Master (c. 1480-1535), an English clergyman and author who wrote treatises on theological and moral subjects.
2. Thomas Master (1603-1643), an English Puritan minister and religious writer who participated in the Westminster Assembly.
3. John Master (1672-1754), a British landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Cirencester.
4. Mary Master (1718-1771), an English naturalist and entomologist, known for her pioneering work in insect studies.
5. Streynsham Master (1682-1724), an English merchant and administrator who served as the Governor of Fort St. George (Madras) in British India.

Throughout history, the MASTER surname has been found across various regions of England, with concentrations in counties such as Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Hertfordshire. The name's enduring presence reflects its occupational origins and the influence of those who held positions of mastery in their respective fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Master

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

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

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

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