Contents [hide]

Förster History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Förster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England
Germany
Scotland
Ireland

The ancestors of the surname Förster were thought to have been a Boernician family in ancient Scotland. They lived in areas near or inside a forest. Some research suggests that the surname is also a shortened form of Forester. The Middle English word forest referred specifically to an area of woodland reserved by law as hunting grounds for the king or his nobles. As such, the surname, Förster would have appeared independently in various parts of Britain.

Early Origins of the Förster family

The surname Förster was first found in Newlands, a parish, in the historic county of Peeblesshire. 1 The first on record was William de Forest who was a tenant of the Douglases in the barony of Newlands in 1376. In the same year, Hugh de Forest was a Douglas tenant in Drumcorke. A few years later, Morgan de Forest in Aberdeen was "cherged" with being a forestaller in 1402 and Master Thomas de Foresta, licentiate in decrees, was rector of the parish of Soudon (Southdean) in 1404. 2

Early History of the Förster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Förster research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1390, 1411, 1430, 1453, 1463, 1472, 1518, 1520, 1526, 1527, 1533, 1540, 1588, 1602, 1608, 1633, 1635, 1642, 1654, 1664, 1668, 1698, 1701, 1703, 1706, 1709, 1711, 1714, 1715, 1720 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Förster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Förster Spelling Variations

Before the first dictionaries and printing presses went into use in the last few hundred years, spelling, particularly of names, was a largely intuitive matter. Consequently, many spelling variations occur in even the simplest names from the Middle Ages. Förster has been spelled Forrester, Forester, Forrest, Forster, Foster, Forrestor and many more.

Early Notables of the Förster family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Sir Thomas Forster (d. 1527) of Etherston, Northumberland; and his son, Sir John Forster (c.1520-1602), an English military commander and Warden of the Middle Marches; Sir George Forrester (d. 1654), 1st Baronet of Corstorphine, Scotland, created Lord Forrester in 1633. Henry Forrest or Forres (d. 1533?), was a Scottish, martyr, referred to by Knox as 'of Linlithgow,' and Foxe describes him as a 'young man born in Linlithgow.' "David Laing, in his edition of Knox's 'Works,' conjectures that he may have been the son of 'Thomas Forrest of Linlithgow' mentioned in the...
Another 239 words (17 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Förster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Förster World Ranking

In the United States, the name Förster is the 4,558^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Förster is ranked the 532^nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,278 people with that name. 4 And in New Zealand, the name Förster is the 811^st popular surname with an estimated 900 people with that name. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Förster as 526^th with 12,527 people. 6

Migration of the Förster family to Ireland

Some of the Förster family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 129 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Förster migration to the United States +

The east coasts of the United States and Canada are still populated by many of the descendents of the Boernician-Scottish families who made that great crossing. They distributed themselves evenly when they first arrived, but at the time of the War of Independence those who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. This century, many of their ancestors have recovered their past heritage through highland games and other Scottish functions in North America. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that many immigrants bearing the name Förster or a variant listed above:

Förster Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Josias Forster, aged 43, who arrived in Bermuda, (Somers Islands) in 1635 aboard the ship "Truelove" 7
Richard Forster, who landed in Maryland in 1653 7
Richard, Forster Jr., who arrived in Maryland in 1653 7
Ann Forster, who arrived in Maryland in 1653 7
Jane Forster, who arrived in Maryland in 1653 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Förster Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Peter Forster, who arrived in New Jersey in 1709 7
Johan Mike] Forster, who landed in New York in 1709 7
Johan Georg Forster, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 7
Hans Michael Forster, who settled in Philadelphia in 1727
Johan Jac Forster, aged 30, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Förster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Forster, who landed in America in 1806 7
Elnr Forster, who landed in America in 1806 7
Francis Forster, who landed in Maryland in 1807 7
Frederick Forster, who arrived in Mississippi in 1839 7
Andra Forster, who landed in New York, NY in 1843 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Förster Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Bertha Forster, who arrived in Colorado in 1903 7

Förster migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Förster Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mrs. Forster, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778

Förster Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Wilhelmine Forster, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Canton" departing 20th June 1847 from Bremen, Germany; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but she died on board 8

Förster migration to Australia +

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

Förster Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Forster, British Convict who was convicted in Northumberland, England for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. George Forster, British convict who was convicted in Northumberland, England for 7 years for forgery, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Joseph Forster, English convict from Staffordshire, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. John Forster, British convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 1st October 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. Samuel Forster, (Foster) who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Förster 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:

Förster Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Rumsey Forster, aged 22, a bookseller, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 14
John Forster, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Whitby" in 1841
Lucy Forster, aged 21, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1842
Richard Forster, aged 18, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ambrosine" in 1860 15
Holman Forster, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Beauty" in 1863
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Förster (post 1700) +

Nora Maier Forster (1942-2023), née Maier, a German-British publishing heiress, actress and model who was primarily known as a music promoter who worked in West Germany with Jimi Hendrix, Wishbone Ash and Yes, wife of John Lydon of the Sex Pistols
Johann Georg Adam Forster (1754-1794), Polish-born naturalist, ethnologist, travel writer, journalist, and revolutionary; he accompanied his father on several scientific expeditions, including James Cook's second voyage to the Pacific
Robert Forster (1941-2019), American actor nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for Jackie Brown
William Forster (1784-1854), English-born, American preacher, Quaker elder and a fervent abolitionist, an early member of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society in 1839
Brigadier-General George Jacob Forster (1891-1979), American Assistant Commanding General 66th Division (1944-1945) 16
John Forster (b. 1948), American folk musician
George J. Forster (1905-1988), American politician, Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, 1950-55 17
George H. Forster, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Senate 11th District, 1880-81; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1888 17
George Forster, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Rockville, Connecticut, 1904-11, 1929; Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Vernon; Elected 1908 17
Dianna Forster, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1979 17
... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Förster family +

Bismarck

Georg Forster (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 18

HMS Hood

Mr. Frederick G Forster (b. 1919), English Engine Room Artificer 4th Class serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Thomas Forster, British Engine Room Artificer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 20
Mr. Stanley Arnold Forster (1925-1943), English Able Seaman from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales and survived the sinking, died whilst a Prisoner of War in 1943 20

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"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 Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 76)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, February 29) George Forster. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Forster/George_Jacob/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . 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
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html