Find out how popular the last name Coster is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Coster.

Coster, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Coster surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Coster in America

Coster is the 17202nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Coster surname appeared 1,646 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Coster.

We can also compare 2010 data for Coster to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Coster

The surname COSTER has its origins in the Netherlands, where it first emerged during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Dutch word "koster," which means "sexton" or "church warden." This occupation was responsible for maintaining the church and its grounds, ringing the bells, and assisting the priest with various duties.

The earliest known record of the COSTER surname dates back to the 13th century in the Dutch provinces of Holland and Utrecht. It is believed that the name was initially given as a descriptive moniker to individuals who held the position of sexton or church warden.

In the 14th century, the COSTER surname appeared in the "Oorkondenboek van Holland en Zeeland," a collection of historical documents from the regions of Holland and Zeeland. This suggests that the name had already gained widespread recognition by that time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the COSTER surname was Jan COSTER, a renowned printer from Haarlem, who lived between 1420 and 1484. He is credited with being one of the pioneers of the printing press in Europe, and his work played a significant role in the dissemination of knowledge during the Renaissance period.

Another notable bearer of the COSTER surname was Laurens Janszoon COSTER, a famous Dutch painter who lived from 1515 to 1595. He was renowned for his exceptional skill in portraiture and was widely celebrated during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, the COSTER surname gained further prominence with the birth of Samuel COSTER, a Dutch Golden Age playwright and poet, who lived from 1579 to 1665. His works, including plays and poetic works, contributed significantly to the cultural landscape of the Netherlands during that era.

The surname COSTER also has a connection to various place names in the Netherlands. For instance, the village of Koster in the province of Drenthe is believed to have derived its name from the COSTER surname, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this name in the area.

Throughout history, the COSTER surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including clergymen, artists, writers, and other prominent figures. Despite its occupational origins, the name has transcended its initial meaning and has become a symbol of Dutch heritage and cultural identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Coster

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Coster.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Coster was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Coster has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Coster was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Coster, please contact us.

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