Show ContentsKister History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Kister family

The surname Kister was first found in Prussia and Denmark, where the name emerged in medieval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. Kaster is a village in West Flanders, Belgium.

Early History of the Kister family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kister research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1497, 1735, 1828 and 1832 are included under the topic Early Kister History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kister Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kesten, Kersten, Kirstein, Kasten, Kistein and many more.

Early Notables of the Kister family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kister Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Kister migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kister Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Fredrig Kister, who landed in New York in 1709 [1]
  • Palters Kister, who arrived in New York in 1709 [1]
Kister Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Christian Kister, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1848 [1]
  • Wilhelm Kister, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 [1]
  • Anton Kister, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 [1]
  • Henry Kister, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 [1]
  • Christina Kister, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1876 [1]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Kister migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kister Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Barbara Kister, aged 60, who landed in Quebec in 1893
  • Cathrina Kister, aged 56, who arrived in Quebec in 1893
  • Christoph Kister, aged 54, who landed in Quebec in 1893
  • Elizabeth Kister, aged 11, who arrived in Quebec in 1893
  • George Kister, aged 19, who arrived in Quebec in 1893
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Kister migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kister Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Kister, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 25th January 1851 [2]
  • Mrs. Kister, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 25th January 1851 [2]
  • Child Kister, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 25th January 1851 [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Kister (post 1700) +

  • Jack Kister (b. 1951), American engineer who pioneered work on the TTL model for the original 68000 microprocessor at Motorola
  • Kenneth F. Kister (b. 1935), American academic, professor of library science
  • Tim Kister (b. 1986), German footballer


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. The Argus News Paper 27th January 1852 Page 2 (Retrieved 26th April 2019). Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4775844?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FA%2Ftitle%2F13%2F1851%2F01%2F27%2Fpage%2F505154%2Farticle%2F4775844


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