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Koster History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Koster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
Germany

Early Origins of the Koster family

The surname Koster was first found in Mecklenburg, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation, and would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. Over time, the family name branched into other houses, where their influence continued to be felt because of the important role they played in the local social and political affairs. They held a family seat at Kosteritz.

Early History of the Koster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Koster research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1532, 1619 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Koster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Koster Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Koster, Kostar, Coster, Costar and others.

Early Notables of the Koster family

More information is included under the topic Early Koster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Koster Ranking

In the United States, the name Koster is the 6,262^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Netherlands, the name Koster is ranked the 39^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,516 people with that name. 2

Koster migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Koster Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Hendrick Koster, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1658 3
Hendrik Koster, who landed in New York in 1658 3
Jan Koster, who landed in New York in 1658 3

Koster Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johannes Peter Koster, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1729 3
Eleanora Catharina Koster, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1747 3
Georg Koster, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 3
Michael Koster, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 3
Johannes Koster, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1764 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Koster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christian Koster, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 3
Casper Juger Koster, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1828 3
Hinr Koster, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 3
Gerh Jos Koster, who arrived in America in 1834 3
A. Adelheid Koster, who settled in America in 1835
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Koster migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Koster Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Diedrick Koster, (b. 1833), aged 23, British blacksmith travelling from London aboard the ship "Isabella Hercus" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th January 1856 4
Mr. Corsten Koster, (b. 1862), aged 10 months, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4
Mr. Behrend Koster, (b. 1832), aged 31, British farm labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4
Mrs. Sophie Koster, (b. 1837), aged 26, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Koster (post 1700) +

William F. Koster, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Queens County 2nd District, 1919 5
William Köster Jr., American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Mannheim, 1884
Rick Koster, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 70th District, 2006 5
Richard M. Koster, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Canal Zone, 1964, 1972 5
Richard Koster, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Democrats Abroad, 1988, 1996 5
John S. Koster, American Republican politician, Manufacturer; Member of New York State Assembly from Lewis County, 1896-97; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1904 5
John Koster, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Washington 2nd District, 2000 5
J. L. Koster, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1896 5
Donald Edgar Koster (1937-1987), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 53rd District, 1970
Chris Koster, American Democratic Party politician, Missouri State Attorney General; Elected 2012 5
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Koster family +

Bismarck

Walter Köster (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details