Meaning of the surname

 Surname Distribution

As you can see from the map, the name is highly populated in the South West of England. The highest number of Pester's was discovered in Somerset, followed by Devon & Dorset. The Pester name has been traced back in these counties to at least the fifteenth century.

Early Records & Suggested Ethnicity

Earlier records dating back to the 1100's have been found in London. Research suggests however that these were a number of individuals who may or may not have been related to each other, while some stayed in London the majority later settled in the South West. We believe these were the first Pester's to live in the UK after their arrival from Northwestern Europe. Before DNA testing we thought they had originated from France, however up to now  DNA research suggests that they lived in the Netherlands region which covers: Belgium, Luxembourg and the edges of France & Switzerland.  Only time will tell as other Pester members do a DNA test whether we can say for sure that this is the area from which all Pester's originated from.

Movement across the UK & Emigration

By the 1851 census there were just under 1000 Pester's recorded which included females who had married into the name. There were also significant absences of people who had previously appeared on the parish records but subsequently disappeared by the time the census records were issued. Later searches found that significant numbers of Pester individuals from families based in West Pennard, & Othery & Bristol in Somerset  had emigrated to the US, and Canada.  The earliest emigration by two individuals from West Pennard to the US took place during the 1830's, this set a trend with the family and other family members continued to emigrate over a thirty year period.   Other family groups moved into South Wales mainly for employment purposes and only a few individuals moved as far as Scotland.

Due to transport links and the changes in employment, family groups moved back into the south of England and one family from Devon and one Pester individual from Somerset, namely my Great Grandfather Edwin E Pester (pictured here on the left), moved to the northwest of England during the mid nineteenth century. 

Edwin moved from Glastonbury to work on a small local paper in the late 1880's. He became friendly with a work colleague who eventually introduced him to his girlfriend's sister - Amelia Jane Oldham. Edwin & Amelia married on 9th August 1891.

They went on to have nine children, one of whom died in infancy. Edwin's descendants still live in the area.

This is them photographed at their home about 1912.