Explore the Family Name Finster
The meaning of Finster
1. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname from German finster ‘dark, gloomy’, or Yiddish fintster (Middle High German vinster). The name may have referred to a person’s habitual character, or it may have been acquired as a result of some now irrecoverable anecdote. 2. German: topographic name for someone living in a dark wood. Some characteristic forenames: German Kurt, Arno, Gerhard.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Finster in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Finster" has seen a decline in popularity over the years. In 2000, it was ranked at 31,738 with 688 individuals bearing the name, which equates to a proportion of 0.26 per 100,000. However, by 2010, the rank had dropped to 43,969 with only 490 individuals, reducing the proportion to 0.17 per 100,000. This means there was a decrease of 38.54% in its rank and a 28.78% reduction in count over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,738 | #43,969 | -38.54% |
| Count | 688 | 490 | -28.78% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.26 | 0.17 | -34.62% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Finster
Turning to the ethnicity associated with the Finster surname, figures from the Decennial U.S. Census indicate that most people with this last name are of White ethnicity, with 93.31% in 2000 and slightly less, 93.06%, in 2010. The number of people of Hispanic ethnicity increased from 1.89% to 2.45%, while those identifying as two or more races decreased from 2.33% to 1.22%. Interestingly, no Black or Asian/Pacific Islander ethnic identity was reported for this surname in 2010, whereas in 2000, 1.89% of Finsters identified as Black. There was a new appearance of American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicity in 2010, with 1.43% identifying as such.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.31% | 93.06% | -0.27% |
| Hispanic | 1.89% | 2.45% | 29.63% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1.43% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 2.33% | 1.22% | -47.64% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 1.89% | 0% | 0% |