Hochster

Hochster is a surname of Germanic origin that appears in various countries and contexts. In scholarly contexts it is most closely associated with the American mathematician Melvin Hochster, a prominent figure in commutative algebra and homological algebra.

Melvin Hochster is known for Hochster's theorem on local cohomology, a result concerning the behavior of local cohomology modules over Noetherian rings with wide implications for algebraic geometry and singularity theory. He also contributed to the development of tight closure theory in collaboration with Paul Huneke, a framework that has deeply influenced modern commutative algebra and its connections to geometry. His research has helped illuminate the relationships between algebraic structures and the geometric properties of varieties, and he has held positions at leading research institutions.

The surname Hochster remains relatively uncommon, and references in scholarly literature typically relate to his mathematical publications. Outside of academia, the name may appear in genealogical or biographical records but does not have a widely distinct meaning or usage beyond identifying individuals bearing the surname.