UK surname
An occupational name for someone responsible for keeping records or lists.
In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Roster surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #24,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington, Lewisham and Baswich. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roster is 161 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.3%.
1881 census count
62
Ranked #24,843
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1861
161 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Roster surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Roster 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 161 | #14,392 |
| 1881 | historical | 62 | #24,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 71 | #26,277 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 31 | #34,582 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 23 | #35,606 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 22 | #36,496 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington, Lewisham, Baswich, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington and Market Drayton. 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 | Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington | Shropshire |
| 2 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Baswich | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Market Drayton | Shropshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Roster 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 Roster, 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 Roster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Roster 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, Roster 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 Roster is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Roster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Roster is of German origin and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the region of Bavaria, where it was derived from the Old German word 'rosten', meaning to roast or grill. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a roaster or griller, potentially in a bakery or an inn.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roster can be found in the Bavarian town records of Augsburg, dating back to the late 1300s. The name appears in various spellings, such as 'Roster', 'Rosster', and 'Roester', reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and orthography at the time.
In the 16th century, the name Roster gained prominence in the city of Nuremberg, where a prominent family of merchants and bankers bearing this surname established themselves. One notable member of this family was Hans Roster (1525-1592), a highly successful merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several public buildings and charitable institutions in the city.
As the name spread beyond Bavaria, it found its way into various historical records across Germany. For instance, in the 1600s, a Johann Roster (1632-1701) from Saxony was mentioned in church records for his involvement in the local Lutheran community.
In the 18th century, the Roster surname appeared in the records of several German principalities, including Hesse and Württemberg. During this period, a notable figure with this name was Friedrich Roster (1728-1796), a respected jurist and legal scholar who served as a judge in the court of the Margraviate of Baden.
The 19th century saw the name Roster spread further across Europe and even to the Americas through German immigration. One notable example is Johann Roster (1818-1892), a German-American engineer and inventor who is credited with developing several innovative agricultural machines and tools.
Throughout its history, the surname Roster has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name. From merchants and bankers to scholars, jurists, and inventors, the Roster name has left its mark across centuries of German and European history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roster 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. Shropshire leads with 25 Rosters recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shropshire | 25 | 47.85x |
| Staffordshire | 18 | 8.82x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.98x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.00x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 3.80x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.84x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.17x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.34x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stafford St Mary in Staffordshire leads with 11 Rosters recorded in 1881 and an index of 380.62x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stafford St Mary | 11 | 380.62x |
| Shrewsbury St Chad | 10 | 546.45x |
| Newport | 5 | 793.65x |
| Wellington | 5 | 170.07x |
| Acton Trussell | 4 | 3636.36x |
| Manningham | 4 | 54.20x |
| Toxteth Park | 4 | 16.46x |
| Ercall Magna | 3 | 810.81x |
| Yardley | 3 | 148.51x |
| Rowley Regis | 2 | 35.15x |
| Rusholme | 2 | 104.71x |
| Barking | 1 | 28.65x |
| Cheswardine | 1 | 454.55x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.71x |
| Maltby In Rotherham | 1 | 588.24x |
| Openshaw | 1 | 29.76x |
| Reigate Foreign | 1 | 31.35x |
| Shrewsbury St Mary | 1 | 48.54x |
| Stafford St Chad | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Wakefield | 1 | 21.74x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Roster 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 Roster 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 Roster households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Wife | 3 |
| Currier | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Lab | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Gardener Unemployed (ND) | 1 |
| General Domestic Servt | 1 |
| General Practioner | 1 |
| Groom (N J) | 1 |
| Housekeeper Domestic | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer At Chemical Works | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Merchant 12 Men | 1 |
| Nail Maker | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Rural Letter Carrier (Csm) | 1 |
| Serv Of ? | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Ships Carpenter | 1 |
| Shoemakers Apprentice | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
| Wheelwrights Apprentice | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Roster surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Roster a modern rank of #36,392.
An occupational name for someone responsible for keeping records or lists.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Roster 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.