Surname de Coster - Meaning and Origin

de Coster: What does the surname de Coster mean?

The last name de Coster is of French origin, coming from a nickname for an animal trainer or for someone who worked with and raised livestock. It comes from the Old French word costere, which means "cote" or "enclosure" for animals, and is thought to have been used as a nickname for someone who managed a livestock enclosure. It could also have been used as a moniker for someone who trained animals as an occupation.

The last name de Coster is most commonly found in Belgian provinces, particularly in the Liege region, but also in the Netherlands, where it was likely introduced in the 15th century when Dutch immigration to the region began. It can also be found in various other parts of Europe today.

Because of its meaning, the last name de Coster can have various interpretations depending on who is interpreting it. It is often thought to represent someone who had an affinity with animals or an occupation that helped them care for and understand the animals in their lives, which could speak to the character of the person bearing the surname. It can also be seen as a surname that symbolizes the connection between people and animals, and the important roles they play in their lives.

de Coster: Where does the name de Coster come from?

The last name de Coster is most often found in Flanders, which is a region in northern Belgium. It has also been seen in the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, and Germany, but is far more common in Flanders, where it is thought to have originated.

The etymology of the name 'de Coster' signifies a patronymic, meaning the surname literally means 'from Coster', with 'Coster' likely being an old-fashioned Dutch term used to refer to a person living on the edge of a wood or forest. As such, it is thought that 'de Coster' families likely originally hailed from rural Flanders, hailing from small farming and woodcutting villages, living off of the land.

De Coster is a name that has a long and storied history in Flanders. Its oldest known recorded reference dates back to 1249, in the form of a deed of donation. Since then, the name has become increasingly widespread, with more and more families taking on the 'de Coster' surname.

Today, the de Coster surname is still commonly found in Flanders. As of 2008, it ranked as the 125th most common surname in the region as a whole, with an estimated 22,193 people in Flanders bearing this name. It remains an indicator of how much Flanders has grown and evolved since its founding, as evidence by the presence of the de Coster families that have made the region their home.

Variations of the surname de Coster

The surname de Coster is derived from the French word 'de costar', which means 'from the border'. Variations of this surname include de Koster, de Kustar, de Kustar, de Custar, de Custoir, de Costera and de Costerij.

In English-speaking countries, the surname is often spelled 'Custer', which is a variant of the original French spelling. This spelling is mostly used in the United States.

The Dutch variant of the surname is 'Koster', derived from the Dutch word 'kosten', meaning 'to cost'. Other Dutch spellings include Kosterij, Kusters, Kustra and Kustar.

In German-speaking countries, the surname is 'Kusterer' or 'Kuster'. This is derived from the Middle German word 'kustar', which means 'bailiff'.

The Italian variations of the surname include 'Costeria', 'Costeri' and 'Costore'. These are derived from the Latin word 'costus' which means 'of the border'.

In Spanish-speaking countries, the surname is 'Costero'. This is derived from the Latin word 'costus', which means 'of the border'.

The Portuguese variation of the surname is 'Coster'. This is derived from the Latin word 'Costernus' which means 'border guard'.

In some places, the surname is also spelled 'de Cozter', which is a variant of the Dutch spelling 'de Koster'. And in China, the surname is 'Sī Kù Sī'. This is derived from the Cantonese pronunciation of the name.

Famous people with the name de Coster

• Charles De Coster: renowned Belgian novelist best known for his fantasy novel The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak
• Jaak De Coster: Belgian professional racecar driver who competed in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship
• Pierre De Coster: Belgian developmental biologist focusing on fish neurobiology
• Karel De Coster: Belgian political activist and historian
• Ard De Coster: Belgian professional soccer player
• Waldemar De Coster: Belgian professional soccer player
• Gaston De Coster: Belgian songwriter and artist
• Jacques De Coster: Belgian computer engineer who helped founded the first Belgian Computer Science Society
• Yves De Coster: Belgian opera singer
• Alain De Coster: Belgian political activist

Other surnames

de Coste