Chester Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Chester last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Chester last name
Meaning of the Chester last name: roman fort / from Chester. Chester is an English surname from the city of Chester, from Old English ceaster, a word for a Roman fort or walled town. The last name first marked people from that city or other places called Chester. A curious detail: Chester keeps the most complete old city walls in Britain.
Arms associated with the Chester name
Coats of arms associated with the Chester surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Chester family history
This is only a glimpse of the Chester story. The full Chester history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Chester coat of arms. Get the full Chester report.
Chester name FAQ
What does the Chester name mean?
Roman fort / from Chester. Common variants include Chesters.
Where does the Chester surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Chester coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Chester coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).