UK surname
A surname derived from the word "pastor", referring to someone with pastoral or religious duties.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Paster surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Chudleigh, St Leonard Shoreditch and Leek. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paster is 191 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.1%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
191 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Paster surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Paster surname density by area, 1861 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 | 52 | #23,915 |
| 1861 | historical | 191 | #12,467 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 52 | #30,061 |
| 1901 | historical | 16 | #32,260 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 14 | #36,886 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Chudleigh, St Leonard Shoreditch, Leek, St Pancras and Grappenhall (Latchford) , Runcorn (Thelwall). 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 | Chudleigh | Devon |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Leek | Staffordshire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Grappenhall (Latchford) , Runcorn (Thelwall) | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Paster 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 Paster, 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 Paster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Paster 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, Paster 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 Paster is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Paster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Paster has its origins in the German language. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "pastēje," meaning a pie or pastry. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked as a baker or pastry chef.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Paster can be traced back to the 14th century in various regions of Germany. It appears in historical records from cities such as Augsburg, Nuremberg, and Munich. The name was often spelled as "Pastēr" or "Pastējer" in these early documents.
During the 16th century, the surname Paster began to spread across other parts of Europe, particularly in regions with German-speaking populations. It can be found in records from Switzerland, Austria, and parts of what is now Poland and the Czech Republic.
One notable early bearer of the name was Johann Paster, a German baker and confectioner who lived in Augsburg during the late 15th century. His bakery was renowned for its intricate and delicious pastries, which were popular among the city's wealthy residents.
In the 17th century, the name Paster appeared in the records of the German settlement of Germantown, Pennsylvania, in the American colonies. Johann Gottfried Paster, born in 1673 in Württemberg, Germany, was one of the earliest settlers in this community.
Another prominent figure with the surname Paster was Friedrich Paster, a German philosopher and theologian who lived from 1728 to 1805. He authored several influential works on ethics and morality, and his teachings were widely studied in universities across Europe.
In the 19th century, the name Paster was found in various parts of Europe, including France, where it was sometimes spelled as "Pasteur." This was likely due to the influence of the renowned French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur, who was born in 1822.
Other notable individuals with the surname Paster include the German painter Karl Paster (1810-1876), known for his landscapes and genre scenes, and the Austrian composer and conductor Julius Paster (1892-1964), who was associated with the Vienna State Opera.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paster 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. Middlesex leads with 5 Pasters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 5 | 2.85x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 11.11x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 18.17x |
| Kent | 2 | 3.34x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 4.52x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 7.59x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 4 Pasters recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 4 | 23.50x |
| St Mary Extra | 4 | 1379.31x |
| Northampton St Sepulchre | 3 | 357.14x |
| Aston | 2 | 16.41x |
| Chatham | 2 | 121.21x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 30.21x |
| Reading St Lawrence | 1 | 357.14x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 1 | 111.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Paster 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 Paster 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 Paster households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Butchers Assistant | 1 |
| Char Woman | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Machinist (Shoe) | 1 |
| Mexican Consular Agent | 1 |
| Private 53 Foot | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Silversmiths Assistant | 1 |
| Soldiers Wife | 1 |
| Stone Carver (Mason) | 1 |
| Tobbaconist And Warehouse Clerk | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Paster surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Paster a modern rank of #36,679.
A surname derived from the word "pastor", referring to someone with pastoral or religious duties.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Paster 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.