Surname Hörster - Meaning and Origin
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Hörster: What does the surname Hörster mean?
Hörster is a German surname derived from the Old German term “horst," meaning a wooded prominence or hill. It is likely that this surname would have been associated with a family that lived in such an area, or that had some kind of political control of the area. More specifically, the name could have originated from a village by the name of Hörst, located in the region of Lower Saxony.
The name is associated with a number of royal families during the Medieval period, such as the House of Hörster, the Lower Saxon dynasty whose daughter Elisabeth of Hörster married into the House of Guelph, one of the oldest noble families in Germany.
The Hörster family coat of arms features three stars above a bar, along with the motto “appel non est doncus” which translates to “Appeal is not vanity”. This is likely a reminder of the importance of nobility and royal status in Medieval Germany, and the need for individuals to ascend to power through rightful claim rather than through vain display.
At present, the surname Hörster is relatively rare in Germany, and is not especially common outside of the country. However, if you happen to bear the Hörster name, you can be proud to be associated with a centuries-long history of prominent German families.
Order DNA origin analysisHörster: Where does the name Hörster come from?
The last name Hörster is a German surname that comes from the Middle High German word, "Hluster," which means "keeper of the woods." It is found throughout Germany, particularly in the central and western states. There is also a small number of Hörsters living in Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, and the United States.
In Germany, the name is most common in those states along the Rhine River, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Rheinland-Pfalz, and Hesse. It is also found in smaller numbers in Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. However, it is not nearly as popular or as widespread as it was during the Middle Ages, when it was associated with land stewards and was the name of several aristocratic families.
In Denmark, the Hörster surname is mainly found in the southern part of the country, with the provinces of Fyn, Solland, and Lolland being the primary areas. In Austria, this surname is mainly found in the state of Salzburg and in small numbers in Vienna.
In the United States, the name is mainly found among German-American families who emigrated during the 19th and 20th centuries. This includes families from states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. While the exact numbers are difficult to obtain, it is likely that only a few dozen families with the last name Hörster are living in the country.
Variations of the surname Hörster
The surname Hörster is derived from the Middle High German term “hürster,” which was a name for a person who lived near a wood or copse. The variants of the surname include Horster, Hoerster, Hurster, Huerster, Hürster, and Hoerstel. Other spellings are usually derived from dialectal pronunciation or simply appear as a consequence of historical spelling conventions.
Common surnames derived from or related to Hörster include Hertster, Herster, Haerster, Herzinger, Herzinger, Herzig, Hörs, Herrs, Horsch, and Hirsch.
Variants across the Germanic language group include Holster in Dutch, or Hurster in Scandinavia. Variations outside the Germanic language group include Horstmann in Czech and Huestre in French.
The surname is now a common family name throughout Germany, particularly in North Rhine Westphalia. It’s also been found in the United States among immigrants from Germany and Austria. Most Americans that bear the name are of Germanic or Austrian descent, although there are some with roots in other European countries. Many people bearing the surname are found in areas of the United States where German settlement was highest during colonial times.
Famous people with the name Hörster
- Matthias Hörster, a former German footballer that won four league titles during his time at Bayern Munich and is currently a sports director at the club.
- Ulrich Hörster, a German conductor and principal of the Associación de Coros y Orquestas de Venezuela,
- Guido Hörster, a contemporary German figurative artist who has exhibited his work in several galleries and museums across Germany, including Berlin.
- Wilhelm Hörster, a German film editor and cinematographer who has been active since 1991 on projects such as the sci-fi adventure film Mission to Mars and the action drama Running Out of Time.
- Hans-Georg Hörster, a German politician who served as Minister of Justice in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia during the Social Democratic Party’s coalition with the Christian Democratic Union.
- Winfried Hörster, a German photographer and author, best known for his books The Unspoiled and Treasures of the Pyranees.
- Carl-Hans Hörster, a German writer and journalist who has written several books including Brooklyn Heights and The Farewell of the Wolves and works widely as a travel writer for German media outlets.
- Klaus Hörster, a German travel photographer and poet who has been featured in numerous publications and on television and has won several awards for his poetic works.
- Hubertus Hörster, a German mathematician and expert on information technology who has written widely on the applications of computers in mathematical research and is a professor at the Ruhr University Bochum.
- Willi Hörster, a former German alpine skier who won two competitions at the Alpine Skiing World Cup in 1978 and currently is a skiing instructor in his hometown of Köln.