Foster Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Foster Name Meaning: Nickname-either for a foster parent or child. May have also derived from a frankish saint(Vedast)also known as foster.

The old English meaning is'Cild-Fostre'. The Anglo-French word is 'Forest' or the old french 'Forceter' meaning maker of shears.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Foster Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Foster family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 7,494
Agricultural Labourer 689
Coal Miner 581
Domestic Servant 379
Dress Maker 360
General Labourer 348
Labourer 343
General Servant 255
Farm Labourer 213
Laundress 192
Cotton Weaver 180
Annuitant 176
General Servant Domestic 174
House Keeper 155
Carpenter 121
No Occupation 110
Joiner 109
Tailor 108
Gardener 102
Farm Servant Indoor 98
Charwoman 96
Grocer 94
Shoe Maker 91
Servant 84
Blacksmith 83

Foster Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Foster 100% 275,967
2 Faster 83% 3,806
3 Foister 86% 1,298
4 Fister 83% 803
5 Feaster 71% 650
6 Fester 83% 560
7 Fostor 83% 219
8 Fuster 83% 121
9 Fooster 86% 116

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The surname Foster is the most popular version of all its varients

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