The ancestral home of the Forstern family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Forstern is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a person whose occupation is forestry, or a person who lives near a forest.
Loading...
Early Origins of the Forstern family
The surname Forstern was first found in Bavaria, where the name emerged in mediaeval 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.
Loading...
Early History of the Forstern family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forstern research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1508, 1616, 1673, 1729, 1791, 1798, 1823, 1868 and 1869 are included under the topic Early Forstern History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Loading...
Forstern Spelling Variations
One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Forstern include Forster, Foerster, Forstern, Forstner and others.
Loading...
Early Notables of the Forstern family
Prominent among members of the name Forstern in this period include Kaspar Förster (also Caspar Foerster) (1616-1673), a German singer and composer; Johann Reinhold Forster (1729-1798), a naturalist and explorer, he... Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Forstern Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Loading...
Migration of the Forstern family
European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Forsterns to arrive in North America, and among them were: Hans Michael Forster, who came to Philadelphia in 1727; as did Conrath Forster in 1744; and Jacob Forster in 1749; George Forster came to Charles Town, South Carolina, in 1772.
Germany
