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

Oyster, 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 Oyster surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oyster in America

Oyster is the 33990th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oyster surname appeared 669 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Oyster.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oyster 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 Oyster

The surname Oyster is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "ostre," which referred to the edible marine bivalve mollusk. It is believed that this surname initially emerged in the 13th century in coastal regions of England where oyster fishing and farming were common occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Oyster surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, a census-like document compiled in 1273, which mentions a person named William Ostre. This early spelling variation highlights the surname's linguistic roots.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which listed a Thomas Oyster. The name's association with coastal areas is further reinforced by its appearance in the Suffolk Feet of Fines from 1365, documenting a transaction involving a John Oyster.

Historically, the Oyster surname was often found in areas known for their oyster beds and fishing industries, such as Essex, Kent, and Suffolk. It is believed that the name was initially given as an occupational surname to individuals involved in the oyster trade or fishery.

Notable individuals with the Oyster surname include John Oyster (1548-1615), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ipswich in 1597. Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Oyster (1625-1691), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Kent, who played a significant role in the development of the local oyster industry.

In the 18th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of William Oyster (1733-1802), a renowned English painter known for his landscape and marine scenes, many of which featured oyster gatherers and coastal scenery.

During the 19th century, the Oyster surname was represented by individuals such as Mary Oyster (1811-1892), an English author and social reformer who wrote extensively on issues related to women's rights and education.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of Sir John Oyster (1870-1945), a distinguished British naval officer who played a crucial role in the Battle of Jutland during World War I, earning him the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British Empire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oyster

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

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

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

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