Surname Forster - Meaning and Origin

A Voyage Through Genes - Unearthing the Unexpected Ancestry of the Forsters

After suspicions of a predominantly Anglo-Saxon lineage, the iGENEA DNA test came back with results that shocked me. Thoroughly debunking assumptions, it revealed surprising connections to Scandinavia, the Ashkenazi Jews, and even Polynesia.

S. Forster

Forster: What does the surname Forster mean?

The last name Forster is of English and German origin. In English, it derives from the term 'forester', a topographic name for someone who lived near or worked in a royal forest, or a occupational name for a keeper or worker in a forest. The term "forest" in this context refers to an area of woodland reserved for hunting by the monarch or other feudal nobility. Thus, the surname's origin is strongly tied to woodland and forest-related occupations.

In its German usage, Forster or Förster also translates to "forester," denoting one who cares for a forest. It is derived from the Middle High German "forstære," which also signifies a job of caring for or managing a forest.

Additionally, the word “foster” means to encourage or promote development, which is reflected in the German version of the name.

So, in essence, the surname points to a family history of forestry work and woodland management. Surnames were often easy identifiers of a person's profession or residence during the Middle Ages, which offers a glimpse into the likely lifestyle and occupation of the person's ancestors.

Forster: Where does the name Forster come from?

The last name Forster is of English origin, stemming from an Old English term "fostere," meaning a 'foster parent' or 'guardian'. Sometimes, it's also interpreted as a variation of 'Forester', a term for a keeper or guard of the forest. The spelling 'Forster' is more prevalent due to the influence of Norman French.

Different variations of this surname appeared in different parts of England; however, significant populations of the Forster family were found in Northumberland and Durham during medieval periods. In the modern world, commonality of the Forster surname extends beyond England. There's a considerable presence in the United States, Germany, Australia and Canada. Among English speaking countries, it's most common in England, followed by Australia, and then the United States. However, in terms of frequency per population, the name Forster is most common in the Falkland Islands, followed by England. In Germany, the name is often spelled with double "s" as "Förster", denoting a profession dealing with forests.

Variations of the surname Forster

The surname Forster can have different variants and spelling forms due to regional differences, pronunciation, or when translating into different languages. Variations may therefore include Forester, Foster, Forrester, and Foerster.

A common interpretation of the name is that it derives from the old English 'Fugelere,' meaning 'bird-catcher'. However, it's more widely accepted that it originates from the role of a forester or gamekeeper. During the Middle Ages, this role was a position of high status and responsibility, often held by a noble or knight.

In German, the name is commonly spelled as "Förster", adopting the general pronunciation and meaning of 'forester' or woodsman. In some regions, the "o" is replaced with an "ö" depending on dialect and regional pronunciation rules. In Sweden, the spelling might be transformed to “Först” or “Förster”, while in France, it may appear as “Forestier”.

Surnames deriving from the same root may also include Forrest, Foard, Ford, Foret and Forett. These names often reflect the occupation or location of an individual's ancestors and are subject to change throughout generations due to linguistic, spelling and phonetic influences.

Famous people with the name Forster

• E.M. Forster: An English novelist, short story writer, and essayist, famous for his works like "A Passage to India" and "Howard's End."
• Robert Forster: An American actor, noted for his roles in Jackie Brown and the Netflix series, Breaking Bad.
• William Forster: An Australian politician and Premier in New South Wales.
• Marc Forster: A German-Swiss film director and screenwriter, known for directing popular films such as Finding Neverland and World War Z.
• Hannah Forster: An English author who wrote several children's books during the 19th Century.
• Lukas Forster: A German professional footballer.
• Scott Michael Foster: An American actor known for roles in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Once Upon a Time.
• Tommy Forster: A Welsh professional rugby league player.
• Barry Christopher Forster: A former English footballer.
• Thomas Forster: An English mathematician.
• Anthony Forster: An Australian painter.
• Derek Forster: An English professional footballer.
• Eric Forster: An American actor from the soap drama, The Young and the Restless.
• Jodie Forster: An Alt-Country, Americana singer-songwriter.
• Maureen Forster: A British actress known for her roles in stage and television productions.

Other surnames

ForstForstbauerForstedtForstenForsthoferForsthuberForstingForstmaierForstmairForstmannForstmayerForstmayrForstmeierForstmeyerForstnerFörstner