Show ContentsJaster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Jaster is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in Chester, which is the capital city of the county of Cheshire, which lies on the border between England and Wales; it is the northernmost county on the border. Devastated in the 11th century by border wars between William the Conqueror and the Welsh, Cheshire's border with Wales fluctuated over the next several centuries. Today, the western portion of the Domesday era county is in Wales.

"Many places where Roman and other military stations (castra) existed are called chesters, and residence at such a spot may have conferred the surname. " 1

Early Origins of the Jaster family

The surname Jaster was first found in Chester. This ancient Roman and later, Saxon city was known as Legacaestir in 735 and by the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, it was known as Cestre. "The city was originally known as Deoua from its situation on the River Dee, but later was known as Legacaestir, meaning 'city of legions.' " 2

"From the city of Chester, the capital of Cheshire, England, founded by the Romans. The name is derived from the Latin Castrum; Saxon, ceaster, a fortified place, a city, a castle or camp, it being a Roman station where the twentieth legion was quartered. " 3

Robert Chester (fl. 1182), was an early English astronomer and alchemist who took his name from the place of his birth. "Trained in the ordinary learning of his time, he turned aside from it to pursue mathematical studies, in which he gained a high reputation." 4

Roger of Chester (fl. 1339), is "almost beyond doubt the same person with Ranulf Higden, the chronicler, like whom he is described as a monk of St. Werburg's at Chester." 4

The Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire listed Richard de Cestre there in 1200 and John, William de Chester was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332. A few years later, John Chestre was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1366-1367. 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Petrus de Cestre in Yorkshire and William de Cestre in Bedfordshire. Kirby's Quest listed William de Chestere, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 6

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Elisabet de Chester and Cristiana de Chester as holding lands there at that time. 7

Chesterman is a nickname as "the one who hailed from Chester. This surname is well known in the States. Adam Chesterman 'imbarqued in the Mathew of London' for St. Christophers, 1635. He was nineteen years old. Probably the present Chestermans are his descendants." 7

Early History of the Jaster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jaster research. Another 174 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1430, 1509, 1513, 1521, 1536, 1545, 1561, 1563, 1566, 1595, 1623 and 1640 are included under the topic Early Jaster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jaster Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Jaster family name include Chester, Chestere, Chesters, Cheaster, Chister, Chestare and many more.

Early Notables of the Jaster family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir William Chester (1509?-1595?), Lord Mayor and merchant of London, second son of John Chester, citizen and draper of London. "His father died in 1513, and two years afterwards his mother took for her third husband Sir John Milborne, who was lord mayor in 1521, and under whose care young Chester was brought up. Lady Milborne survived to 1545, outliving her husband, who died in...
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jaster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Jaster migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Jaster surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Jaster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ludwig Jaster, who arrived in New York, NY in 1868
  • Wilhelm Jaster, aged 45, who immigrated to the United States from Wiesensec, in 1897
  • Christian Jaster, aged 18, who landed in America from Witoczyn, in 1899
Jaster Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Pauline Jaster, aged 54, who landed in America from Berlin, in 1900
  • Bertha Jaster, aged 16, who immigrated to America from Witoszyn, in 1902
  • Helene Jaster, aged 29, who immigrated to the United States from Berlin, Germany, in 1912
  • Afred Jaster, aged 25, who settled in America from Berlin, Germany, in 1913
  • Bernhardt Jaster, aged 12, who immigrated to the United States from Leipzig, Germany, in 1923
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jaster (post 1700) +

  • Larry Edward Jaster (b. 1944), American former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball
  • Mildred R. Jaster, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Democratic National Committee from Ohio, 1939-40; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1940, 1944 8


The Jaster Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vincit qui patitur
Motto Translation: He conquers who endures.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook