Surname Wooster - Meaning and Origin
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Wooster: What does the surname Wooster mean?
The surname Wooster is of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name is believed to have originated from “wooster”, which is an Olde English term for a watchman. This suggests that it was originally a job-related name for one who kept watch, especially in a rural or remote area.
The name Wooster is particularly associated with the regions of Northumbria and Leicestershire in England. In these regions, the name is often pronounced “oster” or “hoster”. Records of the surname as far back as the 12th century have been found in the archives of Worcestershire County.
The name is considered to be relatively rare but is carried on by many families today. It has been used as a place-name in a few different areas in England, which could suggest that the name developed independently in a number of different locations.
Those who have the surname Wooster have a sense of pride in their family heritage and are known to take great care in documenting their ancestry. They tend to be a close-knit group of people, owing to their limited numbers, and this connection is often felt among those with the surname, even if they have never met one another.
Order DNA origin analysisWooster: Where does the name Wooster come from?
The last name Wooster is most commonly found today in the United States, primarily in the Great Lakes region and southern areas of the country. The Wooster surname was first found in the county of Worcestershire in the early 12th century. According to Ancestry.com, this county is located in the central part of England and it is where the first Woosters were found. Records show that the first known spelling of the name was Wuster, which was an Anglo-Saxon name.
Historically, the Wooster surname is associated with farming and occupational roots. This is likely why many of the surnames have been found in locations such as Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Mississippi and Texas. Wooster is also a fairly common last name in Canada, with records found in Quebec, Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia. It is also quite popular in England, particularly in the counties of Essex and Yorkshire.
The Wooster surname has been around for centuries and continues to be found today in various parts of the world. Although the family history stretches back centuries, the name remains a popular choice for those looking to start their own family line.
Variations of the surname Wooster
Wooster is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, first appearing in Jabez Wooster of Ipswich in 1524. The origin of the name comes from a placename in the West Midlands or from the Olde English woċter, meaning ‘fortified place’.
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Wooster include Woosters, Woster, Wosters, Woostor, Wostor, Wostorer, Woosterer, and Wosterer.
The surname Wooster has a long and illustrious history in England, having been the title of a Baronets of England from 1641-1718, and it is still occuring in the West Midlands and East Anglia.
In the United States, the surname Wooster is most associated with the city of Wooster, Ohio, which was founded by several families of Woosters from the East Midlands. The name was also made famous in the American literary classic Huckleberry Finn, in which the main character Huck is given the nickname “Wooster” in recognition of his friend Jim.
The modern spellings of the surname in the United States and other English-speaking countries offers some variety, including Woosters, Wosters, Wostor, Wostorer, Woosterer, and Wosterer.
Regardless of variant spelling, the surname Wooster is still a proud part of the English Midlands legacy, and a reminder of the strength of its people.
Famous people with the name Wooster
- Alfred Wooster, British World War I flying ace
- Monty Wooster, British Parliamentarian
- Wally Wooster, English-born American big band leader
- Madeline Wooster, American-Irish stage and film actress
- Ian Wooster, Canadian actor
- Jack Wooster, English comedian
- Chester Wooster, American comedy writer
- Emmett Wooster, American lawyer
- Norman Wooster, American novelist
- Belinda Wooster, British author
- Kurt Wooster, American historian
- Veronica Wooster, British politician
- Sally Wooster, Canadian-American journalist
- Ted Wooster, Canadian-American football player
- Carmel Wooster, Australian human rights activist
- Wendy Wooster, New Zealand author
- Paul Wooster, British architect
- Julie Wooster, American TV producer
- Malcolm Wooster, English poet
- Piers Wooster, British artist