MASTER
Master is a surname of English origin that has been recorded in a variety of spellings such as Masters, Masterson, Masterman, and Maister. Its earliest form can be traced back to the Middle English word maister, meaning a person of authority or a teacher of great skill.
The name derives ultimately from the Latin magister, a term used since at least 2000 BC to denote a superior or someone in charge. In the Roman occupation of Britain between 55 and 410 AD, the word entered the local lexicon and later evolved, after the Norman Conquest of 1066, into the Old English maegester. This reflected the growing need for recognised experts in both secular and religious communities.
Occupationally, Master was bestowed upon individuals who were highly skilled craftsmen, guild masters or respected teachers in medieval society. It also conveyed the status of the eldest son of a knight, signalling his position as an heir.
Historical evidence for the surname appears in medieval records such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridge (1273), where Angues le Maistre is listed, and in the Poll Tax rolls of Yorkshire (1379), where names like Johannes Maister and Willelmus Mausterman are recorded. Further examples include Robert Maistersone, who was a hostage in Galloway, Scotland in 1300, and Richard Maysterman mentioned in the Pardons roll of Cambridge, 1383.
The surname has undergone several modifications accruing from regional differences and dialectical spellings. Aside from the English variants, the German word Meister and the French Maitre carry the same meaning of master or teacher, illustrating the cultural diffusion of the name. In some cases, particularly in the United States, the name has been anglicised from non‑English variants such as the Polish Mistrz or the Italian Maestro.
In contemporary times the surname remains relatively uncommon but is most frequently encountered in England. Migration patterns have spread bearers of the name to other parts of the world, including the United States, where it is often found in states that possessed a strong English colonial presence such as Virginia and Massachusetts. Despite its modest prevalence, the surname Master continues to signify leadership, authority and professional excellence in the families that carry it.
Typical given names associated with the Master surname
Male
- Adam
- Arif
- Ghanashyam
- Imran
- Iqbal
- Irfan
- Ismail
- John
- Kabir
- Mohamed
- Mohammed
- Nicholas
- Rafiq
- Saeed
- Siraj
Female
- Fatima
- Halima
- Harsha
- Nafisa
- Nazma
- Roohi
- Sabina
- Saira
- Sakina
- Salma
- Sharifa
- Yasmin
- Zohra
- Zubeda
Similar and related surnames
- Maestre
- Maister
- Majster
- Matser
- Amster
- Masteri
- Maestri
- Maestro
- Maistre
- Maser
- Masheter
- Mashiter
- Masler
- Massheter
- Massiter
- Masta
- Mastej
- Mastel
- Masterman
- Mastermann
- Mastern
- Masternak
- Masterova
- Masters
- Masterson
- Masterston
- Mastertch
- Masterton
- Mastery
- Masther
- Mastoor
- Mastor
- Mastoras
- Mastoris
- Mastrell
- Mastri
- Mastro
- Mayster
- Maystre
- Measter
- Meester
- Meesters
- Meister
- Meisters
- Mesiter
- Messeder
- Messeter
- Messetter
- Messider
- Messiter
- Messitter
- Mestari
- Mestayer
- Mester
- Mestern
- Mesters
- Mestre
- Mezzadri
- Misstear
- Mister
- Mistri
- Mistura
- Moister
- Mossiter
- Moster
- Mostor
- Moyster
- Mustari
- Muster
- Mustier
- Mustor
- Mustorr
- Mustre
- Myster
- Mastouri
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Master in...
Braille
⠍⠁⠎⠞⠑⠗
Morse
--.-...-..-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 1,152 people named Master in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,622nd most common surname in Britain. Around 18 in a million people in Britain are named Master.
Region of origin: Middle East
Religion of origin: Muslim
Famous people named Master
- Streynsham Master - Colonial administrator (1640 to 1724)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.