Show ContentsMunster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Munster family

The surname Munster was first found in Cornwall where the family derive their name from Minster, a parish in the deanery of Trigg-Minor, and in the hundred of Lesnewth.

"The word Minster whatever might have been its primitive signification, has been used from time immemorial to import a monastry for Monks, a retired, solitary, religious people, who used artificial music during divine service. Consonant with this import, it appears both from Speed and Dugdale, that at Tolcarne, which signifies the rock chapel or cell, William de Bottreaux about the time of Richard I. founded and endowed an alien priory of black Monks," 1

Early History of the Munster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Munster research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1455, 1487, 1575 and 1610 are included under the topic Early Munster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Munster Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Minster, Minsterchamber and others.

Early Notables of the Munster family

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


United States Munster migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Munster Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johan Peter Munster, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
  • Rosina Munster, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 2
  • Baltazar Munster, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
  • Johannes Munster, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 2
  • Judith Munster, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1757 2
Munster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Miss Catherine Munster, aged 27, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Alberdina"
  • Babetta Munster, aged 11, who arrived in New York, NY in 1860 2
  • Christ Munster, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1862 2
  • Christina Munster, aged 4, who landed in New York in 1864 2
  • Anna Munster, aged 33, who landed in New York in 1864 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Munster (post 1700) +

  • Edward W. Munster, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Connecticut 2nd District, 1992, 1994, 1996 3
  • Sebastian Münster (1489-1552), German theologian and cosmographer
  • Leopold Münster, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 95 aerial victories, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross


  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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