Hester Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Hester last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Hester last name
Meaning of the Hester last name: easter, or young beech. The Hester surname has two roots. In England it is a form of Easter with an added H, likely given to someone born or baptised at Easter. In northern Germany it comes from a word for a young beech or oak, for someone who lived by a notable tree. A curious detail of this family name meaning: German settlers in Pennsylvania and English settlers in Virginia both brought the last name to America.
Arms associated with the Hester name
In England younger sons added small heraldic marks to their father's coat of arms, so relatives named Hester could each carry a slightly different shield.
Get your full Hester family history
This is only a glimpse of the Hester story. The full Hester history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Hester coat of arms. Get the full Hester report.
Hester name FAQ
What does the Hester name mean?
Easter, or young beech. Common variants include Heaster.
Where does the Hester surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Germany and Australia.
Is there a Hester coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Hester coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).