Fester History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
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 Fester family

The surname Fester 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 Fester family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fester 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 Fester History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fester Spelling Variations

The name Fester, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Forrester, Forester, Forrest, Forster, Foster, Forrestor and many more.

Early Notables of the Fester 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 Fester Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fester family to Ireland

Some of the Fester 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.

Fester migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. 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." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Fester family, or who bore a variation of the surname Fester were

Fester Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Feelix Fester, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 3
Felix Fester, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 3

Fester Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Casper Fester, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pe in 1855 3
Thomas Fester, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1873 3

Fester migration to Australia +

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

Fester Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Fester, English convict who was convicted in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 1st January 1850, arriving in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 4

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.
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/australasia