Show ContentsWorster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bavaria, Germany is the ancestral home of the Worster family. The Germans began using hereditary surnames in the 12th century. Worster is an occupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a person who made sausages, a skill which has been held in high regard since the Middle Ages. The surname Worster is derived from the Old German word Wurst, or Wurstmacher, which denotes a sausage-maker.

Early Origins of the Worster family

The surname Worster was first found in Bavaria, where the Wurster family held a family seat from ancient times. Their allegiances were sought eagerly by princes of the region in attempts to enhance and consolidate their political power.

Early History of the Worster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Worster research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1746 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Worster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worster Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Worster include Wurster, Wursten, Wurstel, Wurstere, Wurstle, Wurst, Wuester, Wuersten, Wuestel, Wuestere, Wuerstle, Wuerst, Worster, Worsten, Worstel, Worstere, Worstle, Worst, Woerster, Woersten, Woerstel, Woerstere, Woerstle and many more.

Early Notables of the Worster family

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


United States Worster migration to the United States +

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Worster or a variant listed above:

Worster Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Worster, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 1
  • Rebeca Worster, aged 18, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1656 1
  • Rebeca Worster, who arrived in New England in 1656
  • Peter Worster, who arrived in New York, New York in 1663
  • Peter Worster, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1663 1
Worster Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Worster, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738
  • Hans Worster, aged 50, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 1
Worster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • W.W Worster, aged 36, who immigrated to America, in 1892
  • Valentin Worster, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1894
Worster Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Heinrich Worster, aged 23, who landed in America from Balser, in 1903
  • Margaret Worster, aged 33, who immigrated to the United States from Blyth, England, in 1909
  • Jacob Worster, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Schillurg, Russia, in 1910
  • Johan Peter Worster, aged 19, who landed in America from Schilling, Russia, in 1912
  • Amalia Worster, aged 30, who immigrated to America from Schiling, Russia, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Worster migration to Australia +

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

Worster Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Abraham Worster, English convict who was convicted in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England for 15 years transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Worster (post 1700) +

  • Steve Worster (1949-2022), American football player inducted into the Texas Longhorn Hall of Fame and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame
  • Donald Ross Worster (b. 1941), Hall Distinguished Professor of American History at the University of Kansas named to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009


  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/forfarshire


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