Explore the Family Name Gerster
The meaning of Gerster
South German, Swiss German, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name from an agent derivative of Middle High German gerste, German Gerste ‘barley’ (see Gerst). This surname is also found in France (Alsace). Some characteristic forenames: French Pierre, Stephane. German Ingo.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gerster in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Gerster has seen a slight increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the Gerster surname was ranked 61,207 in terms of popularity and had a count of 307 individuals bearing the name. By 2010, the rank moved up to 59,901 with an increase of 2.13 percent. The count also increased to 337 during this period, showing a 9.77 percent growth. However, the proportion per 100,000 people remained steady at 0.11.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #61,207 | #59,901 | 2.13% |
| Count | 307 | 337 | 9.77% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gerster
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the Gerster surname identified as White, although there was a slight decrease from 98.70 percent in 2000 to 95.85 percent in 2010. Interestingly, there was a small emergence of Asian/Pacific Islander representation among those with the Gerster surname, moving from no recorded percentage in 2000 to 2.08 percent in 2010. There were no notable changes for other ethnic identities such as Black, Hispanic, or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 98.7% | 95.85% | -2.89% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 2.08% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |