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

Rester, 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 Rester surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rester in America

Rester is the 22733rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rester surname appeared 1,127 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 Rester.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rester 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 Rester

The surname RESTER is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rester," which meant "one who rests or takes repose." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone who was perceived as lazy or prone to resting frequently.

In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, including Rester, Restre, and Restere. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where it is recorded as "John le Rester."

The RESTER surname was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Northumberland, during the Middle Ages. Some historical references suggest that the name may have been associated with certain occupations or trades, such as innkeepers or tavern owners, as these establishments provided lodging and rest for travelers.

Notable individuals bearing the RESTER surname throughout history include Sir William Rester (1490-1562), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Northumberland during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was John Rester (1625-1692), a merchant and shipping magnate from Bristol, who played a significant role in the city's maritime trade during the 17th century.

In the 16th century, the RESTER name appeared in the records of the Parish of St. Mary's in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a family with the name resided. This region also had several place names containing variations of the word "rester," such as Resterhaugh and Restertoft, which may have influenced the surname's development.

Other notable individuals with the RESTER surname include Mary Rester (1770-1835), a philanthropist and advocate for women's education in Yorkshire, and John Rester (1820-1892), a prominent architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the city of York.

While the RESTER surname may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it eventually became an established family name, with various branches and lineages emerging across different regions of England over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rester

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

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

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

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