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

Polster, 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 Polster surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Polster in America

Polster is the 21625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Polster surname appeared 1,206 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 Polster.

We can also compare 2010 data for Polster 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 Polster

The surname Polster has its origins in the German language. It is believed to have originated in the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century, in the regions of modern-day Germany and Austria.

The name Polster is derived from the German word "Polster," which means "cushion" or "pad." It likely referred to an occupation or trade related to the production or sale of cushions, pillows, or other padded materials. In medieval times, skilled artisans and tradespeople often adopted surnames based on their professions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Polster can be found in the "Stadtbücher" (city books) of Nuremberg, Germany, dating back to the late 15th century. These records document the presence of individuals with the surname Polster residing in the city during that time period.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Hans Polster (c. 1500-1570) was a renowned painter and engraver from Nuremberg. His works, which included religious paintings and intricate engravings, were highly regarded during the Renaissance era.

Another prominent individual with the surname Polster was Johann Polster (1592-1668), a German theologian and author from Saxony. He wrote several influential works on theology and served as a professor at the University of Leipzig.

In the 18th century, Christian Polster (1725-1792) was a respected German architect and builder. He is credited with designing and constructing several notable buildings in the city of Dresden, including the Hofkirche (Court Church) and the Zwinger Palace.

Moving into the 19th century, Karl Polster (1810-1876) was a German painter and lithographer who gained recognition for his landscape paintings and illustrations. He worked extensively in Berlin and his works were exhibited in various galleries throughout Germany.

Throughout its history, the surname Polster has been encountered in various regions of Germany, Austria, and neighboring areas, often associated with skilled tradespeople, artists, and professionals. While the name has evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the medieval era and the occupation of cushion-making or related trades.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Polster

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

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

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

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