Surname Kester - Meaning and Origin

Kester: What does the surname Kester mean?

The surname Kester is of Old Scottish origin. It derives from the name "Christopher" which was shortened over time to "Kester" in the Scottish dialect. The name Christopher itself is composed of the Greek words "Christos" meaning "Christ" and "pherein" meaning "to bear or carry." Hence, "Christopher" translates as "Christ-bearer". As such, the surname Kester could be interpreted as being related to the same meaning. It's important to note that surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics. Therefore, Kester might have been used to denote someone who was pious or religious, given its origin. It is also possible that it was used to distinguish the son or family of a person named Christopher. The name Kester is predominantly found in regions with historical Scottish influence, including Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Kester: Where does the name Kester come from?

The surname Kester is of English origin. It is derived from the medieval personal name "Kester", which is a variant of the name "Christopher." The name "Christopher" itself comes from the Greek "Khristophoros", meaning "bearer of Christ." The change from Christopher to Kester was due to the medieval English way of pronouncing the Greek letter Chi (X) as 'k', as in "Kris Kringle." The name has been common in Britain since the 7th century when St. Christopher was venerated as a martyr and patron saint of travelers.

Today, the surname Kester is less common overall but is found more often in the United States, particularly in states like Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Indiana. There are also pockets of Kesters in Germany, possibly due to migration or other variations of the name like von Kester. But generally, it is a rather unusual surname found scattered globally.

Variations of the surname Kester

The surname Kester is of Dutch, German and English origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Christian. There have been many variations in the spelling of this surname over centuries due to regional influences, cultural shifts, and phonetic misinterpretations.

Some known spelling variations of Kester include: Kestler, Kestler, Kesterson, Kesterson, Keister, Keester and Kistler. Other variants might also include: Kastner, Kostner, and Kerster, reflecting the phonetic pronunciation of the surname in different regions.

Similar surnames to Kester, which could potentially be of the same origin, include Kessler, Koster, Chester, and Koester. These surnames share a similar phonetic structure, spelling, and some even have the same roots.

In different countries, the surname would also be expressed differently. For instance, in Spain, it could be Cristian, in Italy it would be Cristiano, and in France it would be Christien. This shows that even though the surnames may initially appear different, they possibly share the same roots and etymological origin as the surname Kester.

Famous people with the name Kester

• John Kester: John was an American actor, television producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer.
• Jen Kester: Jen is the daughter of world-renowned Australian golfer Peter Kester and a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.
• Peter Kester: A decorated golfer, Peter has “earned spots in the World Golf Hall of Fame and the PGA Hall of Fame,” according to ESPN.
• Jonathan Kester: Jonathan is a Canadian hockey player, currently playing for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League as a goaltender.
• Darren Kester: A former Major League Baseball pitcher, Darren Kester played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2004 to 2006.
• Eduardo Kester: Eduardo is the founder of Eduardo Kester Associates, LLC, a business consulting firm specializing in helping organizations achieve their objectives.
• Rachel Kester: Rachel is an American author and motivational speaker who has written a book called Flying Free: A Journey of Self-discovery.
• Andrew Kester: Andrew is an American-born doctor, writer, and researcher specializing in oncology. He is also the author of The Healing Art of Oncology: Cancer's New Frontier.
• Stuart Kester: Stuart is a British filmmaker, director, producer, editor, and sound designer who has worked on films such as The Queen, Slumdog Millionaire, and various documentary films.
• Jean Kester: A visual artist, Jean is known for her abstract paintings that mix color and texture.

Other surnames

KestenKestenbaumKesterson