Coster

Coster is a surname of Dutch origin that also appears as a placename in regions with historical Dutch influence. In English-speaking countries, it occurs among communities descended from Dutch and Flemish migrants. Variants such as Koster and Kosters are common, and the spelling Coster may reflect Anglicization or regional pronunciation shifts.

Etymology is usually traced to the Dutch word koster, meaning church sexton or custodian, making Coster an occupational surname. Some researchers note a possible toponymic origin from places named Koster in the Low Countries. A minority of genealogical records connect the name with maritime work on coastal trading vessels, but this is not a primary source for the surname's origin.

Distribution and usage: The surname is found in the Netherlands and Belgium, with a presence in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other destinations of Dutch diaspora. Variants such as Koster, Kosters, and Coster are encountered in genealogical records; databases often cluster them by region and lineage.

In addition to personal names, Coster appears in branding and fictional contexts in various languages, separate from family lineages. The name continues to be studied in genealogical and onomastic contexts as part of Dutch-Northern European naming traditions.