Fenster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

There are three distinct possible origins for this surname: from the Middle English word "foster" meaning "foster-parent, nurse"; an extension of the name Forrester or Forster, meaning "forester"; and the name could be from Forstier, a "shearer" which would eventually evolve to Forster and Foster. 1

The name is "sometimes a contraction of Forester: but there is an origin at least equally probable, viz: fosterer, one who feeds and has the charge of children instead of their parents." 2

Early Origins of the Fenster family

The surname Fenster was first found in Essex where John Foster was recorded at Colchester in 1373. A few years later, Edward Foster was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1381. 1

So as to prove the relationship of the Foster variant with Forrester, "the seal of Walter Forestier (1371 AD v, Lo) bore the legend: SIGILLVM. WALTERI. LE. FOSTER. " 1

Early History of the Fenster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fenster research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1589, 1617, 1635, 1648, 1663, 1681, 1692, 1697, 1698, 1726, 1731, 1753, 1769, 1774, 1790, 1796, 1828, 1831 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Fenster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fenster Spelling Variations

The name, Fenster, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Forrester, Forester, Forrest, Forster, Foster, Forrestor and many more.

Early Notables of the Fenster family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Sir John Forster; Sir Robert Foster (1589-1663), an English judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench; John Foster (1648-1681), the earliest American engraver and the first Boston printer; and Ann Foster (1617-1692), English settler to Massachusetts from London in 1635 aboard the ship Abigail, she was accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials and died in jail after 21 weeks and multiple tortures.Edward Forster (1769-1828), the English miscellaneous writer, born at Colchester, Essex, on 11 June 1769, was the only...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fenster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fenster Ranking

In the United States, the name Fenster is the 18,717^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Fenster family to Ireland

Some of the Fenster family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fenster migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Fenster surname who came to North America were:

Fenster Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joh Jost Fenster, who landed in America in 1764 4
Mrs. Johann Jost Fenster, who arrived in America in 1789 4

Fenster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J. Fenster, who settled in San Francisco in 1852
Josefa Fenster, who settled in Baltimore in 1887

Contemporary Notables of the name Fenster (post 1700) +

Bernard Fenster, American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 16th District, 1930 5
Heinz Fenster (b. 1906), well-known German pianist

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html