Laster
A surname of uncertain origin, probably a late medieval nickname or spelling variant rather than a distinct old-root name.
The #3,847 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 33,552 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The historical evidence for Laster is thin, and the excerpts provided do not give a true dictionary derivation. It is most plausibly connected with English words or surnames built on "last" or similar forms, but the exact source is unclear. Because the name is rare and early records are sparse, nineteenth-century writers often grouped it with other short surnames without establishing a firm etymology.
History
The surname appears in English-American surname lists in the nineteenth century, but the excerpts here only mention it in passing, not as a defined headword. In modern U.S. records it survives as a relatively uncommon surname. Any link to other names such as Last or Laskey should be treated cautiously unless supported by direct family evidence.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it resembles the English noun "laster" only superficially, older surname books sometimes list it near names like Last and Laskey without settling on a single origin.
From the historical record
“Messrs. True, Trueman, Truman, Truewortiiy, Standfast, Laster, Allman, Holman, Manley, Man- ly, Ernest, Frank, Dare (1674),* Bold, Gutermuth ("good courage"?), and Kuhn (i.e., "bold") are matched by Messrs. Guily, Guil, Guile (1642), Wiley, Wyllie, Wily (1640), Cunnin (1858), Masker (1671), Share (German for…”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)