Explore the Family Name Master
The meaning of Master
1. English: occupational name from Middle English maister ‘master’ (Old French maistre). The word had a wide range of applications, and the reference in surnames may be to a schoolmaster, to the master of a farm or house, to the master of an apprentice, or to a ship’s captain. In Scotland the eldest sons of barons and the uncles of lords were called Masters, but this is not primarily a Scottish surname. 2. German: dialect form of Meister and, in North America, (also) an altered form of this. 3. Indian (Gujarat and Mumbai): Parsi occupational name for someone who was a master of his craft, from the English word master. Some characteristic forenames: Indian Amar, Dhimant, Pravin, Amit, Aruna, Bhanu, Gaurang, Gopal, Haren, Jagu, Jayesh, Kalpesh.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Master in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Master" has seen a rise in popularity over the decade. In 2000, it was ranked 12,822nd, but by 2010, it had climbed to the 11,502nd position, showing an increase of approximately 10.29%. Furthermore, the count of individuals with this surname also grew from 2,202 in 2000 to 2,735 in 2010, reflecting a significant increment of 24.21%. This indicates that the proportion of people named "Master" rose from 0.82 per 100,000 population in 2000 to 0.93 in 2010, marking a growth rate of about 13.41%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,822 | #11,502 | 10.29% |
| Count | 2,202 | 2,735 | 24.21% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.82 | 0.93 | 13.41% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Master
When it comes to ethnic identity, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there have been some changes over the years. The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders identified as "Master" increased from 13.85% in 2000 to 16.97% in 2010, a jump of 22.53%. Similarly, those identifying with two or more races also saw an increase of 16.13% during the same period. However, the percentage of Whites with the surname "Master" decreased from 78.47% to 73.16%. Hispanic representation among those with the surname grew impressively by 75.97%, and Black representation also experienced a modest boost of 14.11%. Lastly, there was a notable increase (73.91%) for American Indian and Alaskan Natives holding the surname "Master".
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.47% | 73.16% | -6.77% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 13.85% | 16.97% | 22.53% |
| Black | 4.04% | 4.61% | 14.11% |
| Hispanic | 1.54% | 2.71% | 75.97% |
| Two or More Races | 1.86% | 2.16% | 16.13% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.23% | 0.4% | 73.91% |