Lester is an English given name and surname.
Etymology
The name "Lester" is primarily derived from the English city of Leicester. The name Leicester itself originates from the Old English Ligora-ceaster or Ligracæster. The first element, Ligora or Ligra, refers to the River Legro (now River Soar), the name of which is of uncertain Celtic origin. The second element, -ceaster, is derived from the Latin word castra, meaning "military camp" or "fortified town," a common suffix in English place names indicating a former Roman settlement. Thus, Leicester broadly means "Roman camp on the River Legro."
As a Surname
Lester is a relatively common surname, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its usage as a surname dates back to the Middle Ages, indicating a person originally from Leicester or an ancestral connection to the city.
As a Given Name
As a given name, Lester is predominantly male. Its use as a first name became more widespread in the 19th century and achieved significant popularity in the early to mid-20th century, especially in the United States and Canada.
Notable People
With the surname Lester:
- Adrian Lester (born 1968), British actor.
- Mark Lester (born 1958), English former child actor.
- Richard Lester (born 1932), American-British film director.
With the given name Lester:
- Lester B. Pearson (1897–1972), 14th Prime Minister of Canada and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
- Lester Holt (born 1959), American broadcast journalist.
- Lester Piggott (1935–2022), English jockey.
- Lester Young (1909–1959), American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist.