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

Rister, 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 Rister surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rister in America

Rister is the 17639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rister surname appeared 1,593 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 Rister.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rister 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 Rister

The surname RISTER is of German origin, with roots dating back to the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old German word "rister," which referred to a person who lived near a thicket or forest. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have resided in or near wooded areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Cologne, Germany. In a document dated 1289, a certain "Henricus Rister" is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms such as "Ryster" and "Rysther" in records from the towns of Aachen and Trier, indicating its prevalence in the Rhineland region of Germany during that time.

A notable bearer of the name was Hans Rister, a Lutheran theologian and reformer who lived from 1492 to 1559. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Germany and authored several theological works.

The name RISTER also has connections to place names in Germany. For instance, the village of Risterburg in Lower Saxony may have derived its name from an early settler with the surname Rister.

Another notable figure was Johann Rister, a German composer and organist who lived from 1655 to 1725. He served as the court organist for the Elector of Saxony and composed numerous works for the organ and church choirs.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Rister family emigrated to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America is that of Jacob Rister, who was born in 1749 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Another prominent individual was Friedrich Rister, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1773 to 1846. He was known for his landscapes and portraits, and his works can be found in several art collections throughout Germany.

Overall, the surname RISTER has a rich history rooted in the German language and culture, with its earliest bearers likely residing in forested areas of the Rhineland region during the Middle Ages. Over time, the name spread to other parts of Germany and eventually to other parts of the world through emigration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rister

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

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

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

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