Oster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Oster

What does the name Oster mean?

The surname Oster is of uncertain origin, but there are several possibilities for its source. It may have derived from the Gothic word "ostan" meaning "the direction of the rising sun," and may have been initially born by someone from the east. Alternatively, Oster may have come from the Middle High German word "Oster," meaning "Easter," and the name would have likely belonged to someone born or baptized during the festival of Easter. 1 Oster is an element in many compound names, such as Osterbrock, Osterfeld, and Osterkamp.

Early Origins of the Oster family

The surname Oster was first found in Saxony. The earliest record of this surname dates back to the twelfth century when one Fridericus Osterman was recorded in 1150. In 1159, Gerardus Osterman was a citizen of Cologne. Lippold von der Oesten was recorded in 1254, and Hinricus de Osten appeared in 1302. Radeke Osterlo was listed in 1423, Berchtold Österli in Oberhausen, Wurttemberg in 1485, and Jurgen Ostermann in Goettingen in 1563. Veit Ostermann was a citizen of Passau in 1623 and in 1680, Matthias Ostermann was residing in Erding. Michael Ahasverus Ostermaier served as mayor of the town of Ratzeburg in the seventeenth century, and his son Johann (1678-1733) was a pastor in Crumesse.

Early History of the Oster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oster research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1678, 1686, 1711, 1730, 1747, 1808 and 1855 are included under the topic Early Oster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oster Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Oster, Ost, Oest, Öst, Osten, Östing, Österle, Österlen, Osterloh, Ostermann, Östermann, Ostermaier, Ostermayer, Ostermeier, Osterer, Osterling, Osterbrock, Osterbrauk, Osterbrink, Osterfeld, Osterhues, Osterkamp, Osterholt, Osterwiesch, Ostersehlte, Osterwind, Osterberg and many more.

Early Notables of the Oster family

Notables of the time included

1711), a Flemish sculptor, who settled in England around 1678, and the powerful Russian statesman, Count Andrei Ivanovich Osterman (1686-1747), who was born Heinrich Johann Friedrich Ostermann in Germ...

Oster Ranking

In the United States, the name Oster is the 5,700^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Oster is ranked the 4,696^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 3

Oster migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Oster Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Maria Christina Oster, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1737 4
Michael Oster, who landed in America in 1739 4
Joan William Oster, aged 36, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1740 4
Johan Wilhelm Oster, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 4
Christoph Oster, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Oster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jak Oster, who arrived in America in 1852 4
William Oster, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1857 4
Henry Oster, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1858 4
John Oster, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1860 4
Anton Oster, aged 26, who landed in America in 1881 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Oster Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Karl Oster, aged 4, who landed in America in 1901 4
Karolina Oster, aged 2, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 4
Paulina Oster, aged 20, who arrived in America in 1901 4
Peter Oster, aged 25, who landed in New York, NY in 1901 4
Wilhelmina Oster, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Oster (post 1700) +

George Oster, American mathematical biologist, and Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
Daniel "Dan" Oster (b. 1981), American comedic actor and improv artist
Megan Oster (b. 1989), American figure skater
Emily Fair Oster, American economist
Dr. Harry Oster (1923-2001), American folklorist and musicologist
Jordan Oster, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 2008 5
Henry J. Oster, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 13th District, 1927-28; Member of South Dakota State Senate 9th District, 1941-44, 1949-52, 1955-60 5
George W. Oster, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Bedford County, 1907-09 5
Marcel Oster, German luger who has been competing since 2008
Jennifer Oster (b. 1986), German footballer
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Oster family +

Bismarck

Harald Oster (1922-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6

Citations +

Bahlow, Hans, Dictionary of German Names. translated by Edda Gentry, Wisconsin: The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 2002. Print. (ISBN 0-924119-35-7)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . 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