UK surname
A vulgar surname alluding to an unsavory sexual act.
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Fister surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Willesden and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fister is 260 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.9%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1891
260 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fister surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fister surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 29 | #28,082 |
| 1861 | historical | 230 | #10,611 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 260 | #12,367 |
| 1901 | historical | 39 | #29,799 |
| 1911 | historical | 54 | #27,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Willesden, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and Soham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Boston (incl. Boston allotments) | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | Soham | Cambridgeshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fister surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fister, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Fister surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fister household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Fister is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fister is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fister, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fister has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "fist," which means "fist" or "hand." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who had a physical characteristic related to their hands, such as a large or strong fist.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fister surname can be found in the town records of Augsburg, Bavaria, dating back to the late 1300s. Variants of the spelling, such as "Fister" and "Fister," were also found in other parts of southern Germany during this time period.
In the 15th century, the Fister name appeared in various historical documents across the German-speaking regions. For example, a Hans Fister was mentioned in a legal document in Nuremberg in 1462, while a Johannes Fister was recorded as a landowner in the village of Wittelshofen in 1487.
As the centuries progressed, the Fister surname spread across Europe, with notable individuals bearing the name emerging in different countries. One such person was Johann Fister, a German theologian and author who lived from 1572 to 1644 and wrote extensively on religious matters.
In the 18th century, a Johann Georg Fister (1718-1786) gained recognition as a German composer and organist, serving as the court Kapellmeister in Rudolstadt. His works included several operas and instrumental pieces.
Another notable bearer of the Fister surname was Friedrich Fister (1825-1886), a German politician who served as a member of the Reichstag (German parliament) in the late 19th century, representing the National Liberal Party.
In the Netherlands, the Fister name can be traced back to the 17th century, with records showing a Pieter Fister living in Amsterdam in 1642. This suggests that the name had spread from Germany to the Low Countries by this time.
While the Fister surname is not as common as some other German surnames, it has left its mark on history through the contributions of various individuals bearing this name across different fields, including religion, music, politics, and more.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fister surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 8 Fisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 8 | 3.00x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 2.67x |
| Somerset | 5 | 13.84x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.83x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 2.27x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 7 Fisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 98.31x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Preston | 7 | 98.31x |
| West Monkton | 5 | 6250.00x |
| Westminster St John | 4 | 146.52x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 10.22x |
| Norwood | 2 | 392.16x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 24.15x |
| Manningham | 1 | 36.50x |
| Tottington Lower End | 1 | 78.74x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fister surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fister surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Fister households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Commercial Clerk | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Book Keeper (A H) | 1 |
| Clerk In Gas Office (Town) | 1 |
| Gen Errand Boy | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer In Gas Works | 1 |
| Letter Carrier Chelsea Pensioner ? | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Night Porter At Hospital | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Fister surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Fister a modern rank of #38,110.
A vulgar surname alluding to an unsavory sexual act.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fister bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.