UK surname
Of German origin, signifying someone providing lodging or shelter.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Hoster surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hoster is 523 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.0%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
523 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hoster surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hoster surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 174 | #11,590 |
| 1861 | historical | 523 | #5,015 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 338 | #10,113 |
| 1901 | historical | 48 | #28,808 |
| 1911 | historical | 127 | #19,749 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Hull Holy Trinity, Darlaston and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 3 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 4 | Darlaston | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hoster surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hoster, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hoster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hoster household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hoster is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hoster is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hoster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HOSTER is of German origin, emerging in the late 16th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "hoster," meaning an innkeeper or tavern owner. The name is believed to have originated in the regions of Bavaria and Franconia, where many early bearers were innkeepers or operated taverns along trade routes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HOSTER appears in the parish records of the town of Nuremberg in 1598, referring to a Hans Hoster, who was listed as an innkeeper. Another early reference is found in the municipal archives of the city of Bamberg from 1612, which mentions a Matthias Hoster, a tavern owner.
In the 17th century, the name HOSTER began to spread to other parts of Germany. In 1632, a Hans Hoster is recorded in the tax records of the city of Leipzig, indicating that the name had reached Saxony. A notable bearer from this period was Johann Hoster (1622-1688), a respected brewer and tavern owner in the town of Heidelberg.
As the name HOSTER continued to spread throughout Germany in the 18th and 19th centuries, it also began to appear in various place names. For example, the village of Hosternitz in Saxony likely derived its name from an early settler with the surname HOSTER.
Among the notable individuals with the surname HOSTER in more recent history are:
1. Friedrich Hoster (1799-1876), a German politician and member of the Frankfurt Parliament. 2. Karl Hoster (1834-1911), a German architect known for designing several prominent buildings in Berlin. 3. Theodor Hoster (1855-1927), a German painter and illustrator, famous for his landscapes and portraits. 4. Elise Hoster (1876-1958), a German opera singer who performed at the Berlin State Opera. 5. Ernst Hoster (1892-1980), a German military officer and recipient of the Iron Cross during World War I.
The surname HOSTER has a rich history rooted in the innkeeping and tavern-owning traditions of medieval and early modern Germany. While its origins can be traced back to specific regions, it has since spread across the country and beyond, carried by generations of bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hoster surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 15 Hosters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 15 | 1.99x |
| Staffordshire | 13 | 5.06x |
| Warwickshire | 9 | 4.69x |
| Berkshire | 8 | 14.01x |
| Lincolnshire | 8 | 6.58x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.92x |
| Essex | 5 | 3.33x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.55x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.92x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.81x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.13x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.78x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wednesfield in Staffordshire leads with 9 Hosters recorded in 1881 and an index of 238.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesfield | 9 | 238.10x |
| Bolehall Glascote | 8 | 987.65x |
| West Swallowfield | 8 | 2962.96x |
| Sutton | 7 | 813.95x |
| Holy Trinity | 6 | 33.09x |
| Dovercourt | 5 | 943.40x |
| Epworth | 5 | 877.19x |
| St George In East London | 4 | 55.87x |
| Wolverhampton | 4 | 20.26x |
| Broughton In Salford | 2 | 24.24x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 4.12x |
| Gorton | 2 | 23.56x |
| Great Grimsby | 2 | 25.91x |
| Kingstonupon Hull | 2 | 333.33x |
| Portsea | 2 | 6.54x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.56x |
| Bramley | 1 | 303.03x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.86x |
| Enfield | 1 | 20.04x |
| Eye Dunsden | 1 | 434.78x |
| Fareham | 1 | 53.48x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 5.34x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 8.44x |
| Spotland | 1 | 9.96x |
| Stamford St John | 1 | 625.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hoster surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hoster surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Hoster surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Hoster a modern rank of #37,599.
Of German origin, signifying someone providing lodging or shelter.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hoster bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.