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

Hester, 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 Hester surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hester in America

Hester is the 976th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hester surname appeared 35,642 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Hester.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hester 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 Hester

The surname Hester has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "oistre," meaning "oyster," which in turn comes from the Latin word "ostrea." This connection suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been involved in the oyster trade or resided near areas renowned for oyster cultivation.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are entries for individuals with the surname Hostremunt and Hosatus, which are believed to be early variations of Hester. These entries indicate that the name had already taken root in England by the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hester can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1194, where a person named Osbert Hoster is mentioned. This spelling variation further reinforces the connection to the Old French word "oistre."

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as Hostere, Hostare, and Hostere, reflecting the evolution of its spelling over time. Notably, in 1273, a certain William Hostere is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, suggesting the presence of the name in that region.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Hester throughout history, we can mention:

1. Sir Richard Hester (c. 1510 - c. 1570), an English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London.

2. John Hester (c. 1600 - c. 1670), an English Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s and served as a pastor in several towns.

3. Phoebe Hester (c. 1640 - c. 1720), an English Quaker preacher and writer who traveled extensively throughout Great Britain and the American colonies, promoting her religious beliefs.

4. Thomas Hester (1731 - 1796), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and rose to the rank of Vice Admiral.

5. Harriet Hester (1834 - 1913), an American educator and activist who founded several schools for African American children in the post-Civil War era and advocated for equal educational opportunities.

It is worth noting that the surname Hester has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Hester's Way in Hampshire and Hester Farm in Gloucestershire, further solidifying its historical roots in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hester

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

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 Hester 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 Hester 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 Hester was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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