Surname Hostetler - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling Unexpected Ancestral Roots: The Surprises in my Hostetler Surname DNA Test
I began the iGENEA DNA testing journey teeming with curiosity and ended with a greater understanding of my multifarious ancestral roots. I was in for a surprise when I discovered that my Germanic surname 'Hostetler' held traces of Jewish Sephardic and Celtic roots.
C. Hostetler
read moreHostetler: What does the surname Hostetler mean?
The last name Hostetler is derived from the Middle High German word ‘hostalari’ meaning refugee, immigrant, or stranger. The name was originally given to people who had immigrated from other lands, and it would have been intended as both a descriptive name and an indicator of social status. By virtue of their foreign origin, those who bore this surname were often seen as outsiders in the communities in which they settled and as such had to strive for recognition in order to be successful.
The Hostetler surname is commonly found amongst the Swiss Mennonites, who were a Christian group who immigrated to America from Switzerland in the late 1600s. Being of a pacifist faith, they were unwelcome in many places and were thus constantly traveling and seeking to build a new life in places that were more accepting. The Hostetler surname was likely adopted to serve as a badge of honor for the perseverance of these early immigrants.
Today, the last name Hostetler is still found in many parts of the world, particularly throughout parts of the United States and Canada, where much of the Swiss Mennonite population relocated during the 19th century. It is a testament to the generations of immigrants who came before, and their hard work and commitment to a better life. Its meaning holds even more significance for those who proudly bear the name today.
Order DNA origin analysisHostetler: Where does the name Hostetler come from?
The last name Hostetler is most commonly found in the United States. It is a Mennonite or Amish-derived name, associated with Anabaptists from Germany and Switzerland. The Hostetler name is also common in countries where a Mennonite or Amish diaspora has been established, such as Canada, Mexico, England, South Africa, and Paraguay.
The Hostetler name is strongly connected to the Amish and Mennonite communities. In the late 1600s, many Anabaptists were fleeing religious persecution in their homelands in search of freedom and a better quality of life. Those who settled in the United States embraced the Amish or Mennonite identities. Members of these communities often used Hostetler as a patronymic, a type of surname derived from the father's given name.
Most Hostetlers in the United States are found in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. This is where the vast majority of Amish and Mennonites immigrated to in the 1700s and 1800s.
In the early 2000s, a survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau indicated that the Hostetler population accounted for about 0.007% of the population of the United States.
Today, many of the Hostetlers living in the United States are descendants of those who settled in the aforementioned states in the 1700s and 1800s. As a result, given the tight-knit nature of Amish and Mennonite communities, the Hostetler name is particularly common in areas that have been largely populated by these groups of people.
Variations of the surname Hostetler
Hostetler is an occupational surname meaning “host” or “innkeeper.” It is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word “hosta,” which translates to “host” or “innkeeper.” The most common variants of the surname are Hosteller and Hostetler, although it is also spelled Hostttle, Hostitl, Hosteley, Hostely, and Hoesteler. In some cases, Hostetler is used as an Americanized variation of a number of different Germanic surnames, including Ostler, Osteler, Ostler, Hostetter, Ostetter, and Hostetter.
The spelling Hosteller is found most commonly among those with Germanic ancestry, while the spelling Hostetter may represent an Americanized version of a Slavic surname. In some cases, Hostetler may represent an Anglicized version of the French surname Oster. The surname Oester is of German origin and refers to someone who originally came from an area called Oster.
In some cases, the name may have been altered as it passed from one generation to the next. Common variants of the surname Hostetler include Hospeler, Hostillar, Hostaley, and Hosteler. Less common variants of Hostetler include Host Persian, Hostal, Ostlacher, Hostsler, and Ostel. Another variant, Hostsley, may also refer to an area in England, known as Hostelsey, that is associated with the surname.
Famous people with the name Hostetler
- Jeff Hostetler: NFL quarterback and former Super Bowl champion.
- George Hostetler: World War II Veteran and former President at A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company.
- Irvin L. Hostetler: President of Associated Industries of Florida.
- Clyde Hostetler: Actor who appeared in Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven.
- Jeffrey Lynn Hostetler: Artist, professor, and senior lecturer of Art Therapy and Counseling at the College of St. Elizabeth in New Jersey.
- Nelson Hostetler: Visual Artist, Art Gallery Director and Instructor at Lawrence University.
- Aaron Hostetler: Musician, composer, and worship leader.
- Steve Hostetler: Award-winning songwriter and record producer for Bat Records.
- Carson Hostetler: Award-winning artist and educator.
- Harold Hostetler: Author and pastor who wrote the book "The Hope of the Gospel".