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Coster Family History

Coster Name Meaning

English: metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of costards (Anglo-Norman French from coste ‘rib’) a variety of large apples so called for their prominent ribs. In some cases it may have been a nickname (from the same word) for a person with an apple-shaped (i.e. round) head. Dutch and German: variant of Koster and in North America (also) an altered form of this.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Koster, Hoster, Poster, Cater, Oster, Colter, Cotter, Doster, Custer

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Coster family from?

You can see how Coster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Coster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Coster families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 380 Coster families living in London. This was about 39% of all the recorded Coster's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Coster families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Coster surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Coster ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Coster. 17% of Coster men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Coster women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Coster were Lorry Driver and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Coster | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    17%
  • Builders Labourer
    16%
  • Gardener
    9%
  • Lorry Driver
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Coster family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 47,000 census records available for the last name Coster. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Coster census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Coster

Passenger Lists

There are 11,000 immigration records available for the last name Coster. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Coster immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Coster. For the veterans among your Coster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Coster military records

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What is the average Coster lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Coster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Coster in 1946 was 54, and 89 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Coster

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