Foster (surname)

This article is about the surname "Foster". For the given name, see Foster (given name). For other uses, see Foster (disambiguation).

The surname Foster is a variation of the name Forster, meaning one who 'works in the forest'.[1] It may also derive from the French forcetier, meaning 'maker of scissors'.

In the 2010 United States Census, Foster ranked #99 in surname popularity.[2]

## Notable people with the surname "Foster" include[edit]

* Top
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* R
* S
* T
* V
* W
* Y
* Z

### A[edit]

* Abiel Foster (1735–1806), American religious leader and politician
* A. Carville Foster (born 1932), American politician
* Addison G. Foster (1837–1917), American businessman
* Adriance S. Foster (1901–1973), American botanist
* Adrianna Foster (born 1986), Mexican musician
* Akeem Foster (born 1987), Canadian football player
* Al Foster (born 1943), American jazz drummer
* A. Lawrence Foster (1802–1877), American politician
* Alexander Foster (rugby union) (1890–1972), Irish rugby union footballer
* Alexandra Föster (born 2002), German rower
* Alison Foster (born 1957), British judge
* Allan Foster (1925–1987), Australian politician
* Allen Foster (1887–1916), English footballer
* Amos Foster (1880–1952), American football player
* Ami Foster, American actress
* Andrea Foster (born 1997), Guyanese runner
* Andy Foster (politician) (born 1961), New Zealand politician
* Andy Foster (sports commissioner) (born 1979), American athletic administrator
* Angelique Foster, British politician
* Ann Foster (1617–1692), English witch
* Ann Foster (died 1674) (??–1674), English witch
* Anna Foster (born 1979), English radio presenter
* Anthony Foster (1705–1779), Irish politician
* Anthony Foster (activist) (1953–2017), Australian activist
* Antigone Foster, English-Australian recording artist
* Arian Foster (born 1986), American football player
* Arlene Foster (born 1970), Northern Ireland politician
* Augustus Foster (1780–1848), British diplomat

### B[edit]

* Basil Foster (1882–1959), English actor and cricketer
* Belinda J. Foster, American attorney
* Bernard Foster (born 1931), British boxer
* Bert Foster (1906–1942), Australian rules footballer
* Bertha Foster (1881–1968), American academic administrator
* Bertie Foster (1884–1959), English footballer
* Billy Foster (1937–1967), Canadian auto racing driver
* Blake Foster (born 1985), American actor
* Bobby Foster (1929–2006), English footballer
* Bon Foster (1955–1991), American lawyer
* Brandon Foster (born 1984), American football player
* Bren Foster, Australian actor
* Brenda Jefferson Foster (1955–2010), American witness
* Brendan Foster (born 1948), British runner
* Brenden Foster (1997–2008), American fundraiser
* Brent Foster (born 1967), New Zealand athlete
* Brent Foster (director) (born 1982), Canadian film director
* Bruce Foster, American engineer
* Bryson Foster, American activist
* Bud Foster (born 1959), American football coach
* Buddy Foster (born 1957), American actor

### C[edit]

* C. Allen Foster (born 1941), American lawyer
* Carey Foster (1835–1919), English chemist
* Carla Foster, British social figure
* Carlton Foster (1826–1901), American businessman and politician
* Caroline Rose Foster (1877–1979), American farmer
* Carson Foster (born 2001), American swimmer
* Cassius Gaius Foster (1837–1899), American judge
* Cathy Foster (born 1956), British sailor
* Cecil Foster (born 1954), Canadian writer
* Cecil G. Foster (1925–2016), American pilot
* Charles Foster, multiple people
* Cheryl Foster (born 1980), Welsh football referee
* Claiborne Foster (1896–1981), American actress
* Clare Foster (born 1980), British actress
* Clement le Neve Foster (1841–1904), British geologist
* Clyde Foster (1931–2019), American scientist and mathematician
* Colin Foster (born 1964), English footballer
* Colin Foster (footballer, born 1952) (born 1952), English footballer
* Corey Foster (born 1969), Canadian ice hockey player
* C. Stephen Foster, American ophthalmologist
* C. W. Foster (1866–1935), English clergyman

### D[edit]

* Dale Foster (born 1958), Australian rules footballer
* Daren Foster (born 1966), English cricketer
* Darryl Foster (born 1961), American activist
* Daryl Foster (born 1938), Australian cricket coach
* Dawn Foster (1986–2021), British journalist
* D'Chrome Foster (born 1977), American singer
* Defne Joy Foster (1975–2011), Turkish actress
* DeShaun Foster (born 1980), American football player
* Diane Foster (1928–1999), Canadian track athlete
* Diane Foster (curler) (born 1955/1956), Canadian curler
* Dianne Foster (1928–2019), Canadian actress
* Dixon Foster (1888–1973), American athletic coach
* D. J. Foster (born 1993), American football player
* Dodshon Foster (1730–1793), English merchant
* Donte Foster (born 1990), American football player
* Dudley Foster (1925–1973), British actor
* Duke Foster (1929–1973), American football player
* Dwayne Foster, American football coach

### E[edit]

* Ebenezer Foster (??–1792), English judge
* Eddie Foster (1887–1927), American baseball player
* Eddie Foster (American football) (born 1954), American football player
* Edith Dunham Foster (1864–1950), American filmmaker
* Edna Foster (1900–??), American actress
* Edwin Michael Foster (1917–2013), American microbiologist and food scientist
* Eileen Foster, American corporate executive
* Eleazer Foster (1841–1899), American lawyer
* Eleazer Kingsbury Foster (1813–1877), American lawyer and politician
* Elena Ochoa Foster (born 1958), Spanish art curator
* Eliza Foster (1802–1888), English author
* Eliza Clayland Tomlinson Foster (1788–1855), American settler
* Elmer Foster (1861–1946), American baseball player
* E. M. Foster, English novelist
* Émilie Foster, Canadian politician
* Emily Foster (1842–1897), New Zealand teacher
* Emmanuel Foster (1921–1965), English footballer
* Emory S. Foster (1839–1902), American general
* Enid Foster (1895–1979), American sculptor
* Enoch Foster (1839–1913), American judge
* E. P. Foster (1848–1932), American entrepreneur
* Ephraim H. Foster (1794–1854), American politician
* Erin Foster, American writer
* Ernest Foster (1873–1956), English cricketer
* Eugie Foster (1971–2014), American columnist
* Evelyn Foster (1902–1931), English taxi driver
* Ezola Foster (1938–2018), American activist

### F[edit]

* Fiona Foster, British television journalist
* Flora Foster (??–1914), American actress
* Foz Foster (born 1960), English composer
* Frances Foster (1924–1997), American actress
* Fred Foster (1931–2019), American record producer
* Freddie Foster (born 1995), English cricketer
* Frederic de Peyster Foster (1849–1929), American lawyer
* Fredericka Foster (born 1944), American artist

### G[edit]

* G. C. Foster (1885–1966), Jamaican sportsman
* Gene Foster (born 1942), American football player
* Genevieve Foster (1893–1979), American illustrator
* Geoffrey Foster (1884–1971), English cricketer
* Gerald Foster (painter) (1900–1987), American painter
* Gigi Foster, Australian economist
* Gilbert Lafayette Foster (1874–1940), Canadian surgeon general
* Giles Foster, English television director
* Gillian Foster (born 1976), Australian footballer
* Giraud Foster (1850–1945), American businessman
* Glen Foster (1930–1999), American sailor
* Glen Foster (comedian), Canadian comedian
* Glenn Foster (1990–2021), American football player
* Gloria Foster (1933–2001), American actress
* Gordon Foster (1921–2010), Irish engineer
* Graças Foster (born 1953), Brazilian businesswoman
* Graeme Foster, Australian rugby league footballer
* Grant Foster (born 1945), Australian composer
* Gregory Foster (1866–1931), English academic administrator
* Gwendolyn Audrey Foster (born 1960), American academic
* Gwin Foster (1903–1954), American guitarist
* Guy Mark Foster, American writer

### H[edit]

* Hadley Foster (born 1975), American athletics administrator
* Hal Foster (1892–1982), Canadian-American comic writer
* Hal Foster (art critic) (born 1955), American art critic
* Hannah Webster Foster (1758/1759–1840), American novelist
* Heather Foster (born 1966), Jamaican-American bodybuilder
* Herman Foster (1928–1999), American pianist
* Hubert Foster (1855–1919), British army officer
* Hugh F. Foster Jr. (1918–2004), American general
* Hunter Foster (born 1969), American entertainer

### I[edit]

* Idris Foster (1911–1984), Welsh scholar
* Ira Roe Foster (1811–1885), American teacher and politician
* Isaiah Foster (born 2003), American soccer player
* Israel Moore Foster (1873–1950), American politician
* Ivan Foster (born 1943), Northern Irish minister

### J[edit]

* Jabez Foster (footballer) (1902–??), English footballer
* Jackie Foster (1903–??), English footballer
* Jacqueline Foster, British politician
* Jacqueline Foster (bowls) (born 1975), Canadian lawn bowler
* Jake Foster (born 1988), Australian rugby league footballer
* Jamie S. Foster, American biologist
* Jarrey Foster (born 1996), American basketball player
* Jason Foster (born 1988), American football player
* Javon Foster (born 2000), American football player
* Jayson Foster (born 1985), American football player
* J. D. Foster (born 1953), American record producer
* Jean Foster (born 1972), American sports shooter
* Jeanne Robert Foster (1879–1970), American poet
* Jeannette Howard Foster (1895–1981), American librarian
* Jedediah Foster (1726–1779), English judge
* Jeff Foster (spiritual teacher) (born 1980), English writer and public speaker
* Je'Kel Foster (born 1983), American basketball player
* Jen Foster, American singer-songwriter
* Jennifer Foster, English archaeologist
* Jennifer Foster (equestrian) (born 1964), Canadian equestrian
* Jerome Foster II (born 2002), American activist
* Jerome Foster (American football) (born 1960), American football player
* Jerry Foster (1907–1984), Scottish rugby union footballer
* J. Morris Foster (1881–1966), American actor
* Joana Foster (1946–2016), Ghanaian-British activist
* Joanna Foster (born 1964), British actress
* Jodie Foster (born 1962), American actress
* Joel Foster (1814–1945), American farmer
* Joey Foster (born 1982), British racing driver
* Josephine Foster, American musician
* Joshua L. Foster (1824–1900), American architect
* Joy Foster, Jamaican table tennis player
* Joyce Foster (born 1944), American politician
* Judith Ellen Foster (1840–1910), American lecturer
* Julia Foster (born 1943), English actress
* Juliann Bluitt Foster (1938–2019), American dentist
* Julie Foster (born 1969), Canadian rugby union footballer
* Juliette Foster (born 1964), British television journalist

### K[edit]

* Kareem Foster (born 2000), Caymanian footballer
* Karith Foster (born 1974), American comedian
* Kathi Foster (born 1947), American politician
* Kathryn Foster, American soap opera director
* Keith Foster (born 1948), Jamaican singer
* Kenny Foster (born 1985), American mixed martial artist
* Kent Foster (born 1938), British military officer
* Kitty Foster (1790–1863), American freed slave
* Kmele Foster (born 1980), American entrepreneur
* Kris Foster (born 1974), American baseball player
* Krishna Foster (born 1970), American chemist
* Kurtis Foster (born 1981), Canadian ice hockey player

### L[edit]

* Lafayette L. Foster (1851-1901), American academic administrator, politician, and journalist
* Lafayette S. Foster (1806–1880), American politician and judge
* Larry Foster (born 1976), American football player
* Larry Foster (baseball) (1937–2023), American baseball player
* Laura E. Foster (1871-1920), American illustrator and cartoonist
* Lawrence Foster (born 1941), American conductor
* Leland Foster (1910–??), American baseball player
* Leo Foster (born 1951), American baseball player
* Leon Foster (1913–1991), Barbadian cricketer
* Lewis Foster (born 1993), English rugby league footballer
* Lewis R. Foster (1898–1974), American screenwriter
* Lilibet Foster, American film director
* Lillian Foster (??–1963), Canadian journalist
* Linae Foster, American video game producer
* Lindsay Foster (??–2020), Australian judge
* Lisa Foster, Canadian actress
* Little Willy Foster (1922–1987), American singer-songwriter
* Lizzie Foster (1856–1948), British archer
* Lori Foster, American writer
* Lorraine Foster (born 1938), American mathematician
* Louis Foster (born 2003), British racing driver
* Lucas Foster, American film producer
* Lucas Foster (snowboarder) (born 1999), American snowboarder
* Lucia Foster, American economist
* Lucian R. Foster (1806–1876), American photographer
* Luke Foster (born 1985), English footballer
* Luther H. Foster Jr. (1913–1994), American academic administrator
* Lydia Mary Foster (1867–1943), Irish writer
* Lyle Foster (born 2000), South African footballer
* Lynn Foster (1914–1985), Australian playwright

### M[edit]

* M. A. Foster (1939–2020), American writer
* Maalique Foster (born 1996), Jamaican footballer
* Mac Foster (1942–2010), American boxer
* Marcia Lane Foster (1897–1983), English artist
* Marcus Foster (1923–1973), American educator
* Marcus Foster (basketball) (born 1995), American basketball player
* Margaretta Foster (1737–1824), Irish peeress
* Margot Foster (born 1958), Australian rower
* Marian Foster (born 1948), English television presenter
* Marie Foster (1917–2003), American activist
* Marion Foster (writer) (1924–1997), Canadian broadcaster
* Marjorie Foster (1893–1974), English farmer
* Martha M. Foster, American business executive
* Marty Foster (born 1963), American baseball umpire
* Mary-Jane Foster, American lawyer
* Mason Foster (born 1989), American football player
* Matt Foster (born 1995), American baseball player
* Matthew Foster (born 2000), Irish cricketer
* Matty Foster (born 2001), English rugby league footballer
* Max Foster (born 1972), American news correspondent
* Mayhew Foster (1911–2011), American soldier
* Meg Foster, American actress
* Megan Foster (born 1992), American rugby union footballer
* Melvin Foster (born 1971), American boxer
* Mercedes S. Foster (born 1942), American zoologist
* Mo Foster (1944–2023), English instrumentalist
* Morris Foster (1936–2020), Irish cyclist
* Morrison Foster (1823–1904), American business agent
* Mulford B. Foster (1888–1978), American botanist
* Muriel Foster (1877–1937), English soprano
* Murphy J. Foster (1849–1921), American politician
* Murray Foster (born 1967), Canadian musician
* Myles Birket Foster (1825–1899), English painter

### N[edit]

* Nancilea Foster (born 1983), American diver
* Nat Foster (1766–1840), American pioneer
* Neal Foster (born 1972), American politician
* Neil Foster (born 1962), English cricketer
* Neville Foster (1890–1978), English cricketer
* Nick Foster, British composer
* Nick Foster (racing driver) (born 1965), British auto racing driver
* Norris Foster (1855–1925), English barrister

### O[edit]

* Orpha Woods Foster (1850–1938), American pioneer
* Otha Foster (born 1988), American football player
* Owen Foster (born 2005), English footballer

### P[edit]

* Pat Foster (born 1939), American basketball coach
* Patrick Foster (born 1987), Kenyan-English cricketer
* Paulinus Foster (1811–1861), American lawyer and politician
* Phil Foster (1913–1985), American actor
* Phil Foster (politician) (born 1958), American politician
* Philip Foster (1805–1884), American businessman
* Philip Foster (British politician) (1865–1933), American politician
* Phoebe Foster (1896–1975), American actress
* Pop Foster (1878–1944), American baseball player
* Pops Foster (1892–1969), American musician
* Preston Foster (1901–1970), American actor

### R[edit]

* Radney Foster (born 1959), American musician
* Ramon Foster (born 1986), American football player
* Randolph Foster (athlete) (born 1968), Costa Rican sprinter
* Randolph Sinks Foster (1820–1903), American bishop
* R. E. Foster (1878–1914), English cricketer and footballer
* Reb Foster (1936–2019), American disc jockey
* Rebecca Salome Foster (1848–1902), American missionary
* Red Dawn Foster, American politician
* Reddy Foster (1864–1908), American baseball player
* Reg Foster (1904–1999), British journalist
* Renardo Foster (born 1984), American football player
* Reuben Foster (born 1994), American football player
* Rhesa Foster (born 1998), American long jumper
* Rick Foster, American guitarist
* R. L. Foster (1919–2005), American politician
* Robert Foster multiple people
* Roberta Foster (born 1961), Barbadian equestrian
* Robin B. Foster, American botanist
* Rod Foster (born 1960), American basketball player
* Rodney Foster (born 1941), English golfer
* Roger Sherman Baldwin Foster (1857–1924), American lawyer
* Ronnie Foster (born 1950), American musician
* Rube Foster (1879–1930), American baseball player
* Rube Foster (AL pitcher) (1888–1976), American baseball player
* Rufus Edward Foster (1871–1942), American judge
* Rusty Foster, American programmer
* Ruth Foster (1920–2012), American actress
* Ruthie Foster (born 1964), American singer-songwriter
* Ryan Foster (athlete) (born 1988), American runner
* Rylee Foster (born 1988), Canadian soccer player

### S[edit]

* Sally Foster, Scottish archaeologist
* Sesshu Foster (born 1957), American poet
* Sewell Foster (1792–1868), Canadian politician
* Shan Foster (born 1986), American basketball player
* Shanise Foster (born 1993), Jamaican footballer
* Shawn Foster, American television director
* Sheila Foster, English academic
* Sheri Foster (born 1957), American actress
* Sidney Foster (1917–1977), American pianist
* Stacie Foster, American actress
* Stan Foster, American actor
* Stanley Foster (1885–1965), New Zealand surgeon
* Stella Foster, American journalist
* Stephanie Foster (born 1958), American rower
* Stephanie Foster (politician) (born 1967), American politician
* Sue Foster, English snooker player
* Susanna Foster (1924–2009), American actress
* Sutton Foster (born 1975), American entertainer
* Sydney Foster (1921–2007), Jamaican hurdler
* Sydney F. Foster (1893–1973), American judge

### T[edit]

* Tameka Foster (born 1971), American fashion stylist
* Terry Foster (born 1959), American sports columnist
* Theodore Foster (1752–1828), American politician
* Therese Mary Foster, New Zealand psychologist
* Tiffany Foster (born 1984), Canadian equestrian
* Tina Monshipour Foster, Iranian-American lawyer
* Toby Foster (born 1969), British comedian
* Todd Foster (born 1967), American boxer
* Toni Foster (born 1971), American basketball player
* Tony Foster (1853–1918), New Zealand lecturer
* Tony Foster (artist) (born 1946), British environmentalist
* Trevor Foster (1914–2005), Welsh rugby union footballer
* Trevor Foster (drummer), English drummer

### V[edit]

* Vera Chandler Foster (1915–2001), American social worker
* Vere Foster (1819–1900), English philanthropist
* Veronica Foster (1922–2000), Canadian cultural figure
* Vince Foster (1945–1993), American attorney
* Vine Cynthia Colby Foster (1852–1878), American medical practitioner

### W[edit]

* Warren Foster (1904–1971), American writer
* Wayne Foster (born 1963), English footballer
* Wendell Foster (1924–2019), American politician
* Wilder D. Foster (1819–1873), American politician
* Wilfrid Foster (1874–1958), English army officer and cricketer
* Winston Foster (born 1941), English footballer

### Y[edit]

* Yip Foster (1907–1978), Canadian ice hockey player

### Z[edit]

* Zelda Foster (1934–2006), American social worker

## Disambiguation pages[edit]

* Top
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
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* Y

### A[edit]

* Adrian Foster (disambiguation)
* Alan Foster (disambiguation)
* Alex Foster (disambiguation)
* Alfred Foster (disambiguation)
* Amy Foster (disambiguation)
* Andrew Foster (disambiguation)
* Arthur Foster (disambiguation)
* Asa Foster (disambiguation)

### B[edit]

* Barry Foster (disambiguation)
* Ben Foster (disambiguation)
* Bill Foster (disambiguation)
* Bob Foster (disambiguation)
* Bradley Foster (disambiguation)
* Brian Foster (disambiguation)

### C[edit]

* Catherine Foster (disambiguation)
* Charles Foster (disambiguation)
* Christopher Foster (disambiguation)
* Craig Foster (disambiguation)

### D[edit]

* Daniel Foster (disambiguation)
* David Foster (disambiguation)
* Derek Foster (disambiguation)
* Donald Foster (disambiguation)
* Douglas Foster (disambiguation)
* Dwight Foster (disambiguation)

### E[edit]

* Edward Foster (disambiguation)
* Eric Foster (disambiguation)

### F[edit]

* Frank Foster (disambiguation)
* Frederick Foster (disambiguation)

### G[edit]

* Gary Foster (disambiguation)
* Geoff Foster (disambiguation)
* George Foster (disambiguation)
* Graham Foster (disambiguation)
* Greg Foster (disambiguation)

### H[edit]

* Harold Foster (disambiguation)
* Harry Foster (disambiguation)
* Helen Foster (disambiguation)
* Henry Foster (disambiguation)

### I[edit]

* Ian Foster (disambiguation)

### J[edit]

* Jack Foster (disambiguation)
* James Foster (disambiguation)
* Jane Foster (disambiguation)
* Jeff Foster (disambiguation)
* Jim Foster (disambiguation)
* John Foster (disambiguation)
* Jon Foster (disambiguation)
* Joseph Foster (disambiguation)

### K[edit]

* Kate Foster (disambiguation)
* Kathleen Foster (disambiguation)
* Kathy Foster (disambiguation)
* Kenneth Foster (disambiguation)
* Kevin Foster (disambiguation)
* Kimberly Foster (disambiguation)

### L[edit]

* Leroy Foster (disambiguation)
* Linda Foster (disambiguation)

### M[edit]

* Margaret Foster (disambiguation)
* Mark Foster (disambiguation)
* Martin Foster (disambiguation)
* Mary Foster (disambiguation)
* Maurice Foster (disambiguation)
* Michael Foster (disambiguation)

### N[edit]

* Nathaniel Foster (disambiguation)
* Nigel Foster (disambiguation)
* Norman Foster (disambiguation)

### P[edit]

* Paul Foster (disambiguation)
* Peter Foster (disambiguation)

### R[edit]

* Ralph Foster (disambiguation)
* Red Foster (disambiguation)
* Reginald Foster (disambiguation)
* R. F. Foster (disambiguation)
* Richard Foster (disambiguation)
* Robert Foster (disambiguation)
* Ron Foster (disambiguation)
* Roy Foster (disambiguation)

### S[edit]

* Samuel Foster (disambiguation)
* Sarah Foster (disambiguation)
* Scott Foster (disambiguation)
* Stephen Foster (disambiguation)
* Steve Foster (disambiguation)

### T[edit]

* Thomas Foster (disambiguation)
* Timothy Foster (disambiguation)

### W[edit]

* Walter Foster (disambiguation)
* Will Foster (disambiguation)
* William Foster (disambiguation)

## Fictional characters[edit]

* Aidan Foster, a character on the soap opera Neighbours
* Anne Foster, a character on the soap opera Coronation Street
* Cassandra Foster, a character on the All My Children
* Jonny Foster, a character on the soap opera Emmerdale
* Snapper Foster, a character on soap opera The Young and the Restless

## See also[edit]

* Foster (given name), a page for people with the given name "Foster"
* Foster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for "Foster"
* Forster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for "Forster"
* Attorney General Foster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Attorney Generals surnamed "Foster"
* Doctor Foster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Doctors surnamed "Foster"
* General Foster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Generals surnamed "Foster"
* Governor Foster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Governors surnamed "Foster"
* Judge Foster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Judges surnamed "Foster"
* Justice Foster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Justices surnamed "Foster"
* Lord Foster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Lord surnamed "Foster"
* Senator Foster (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Senators surnamed "Foster"

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ "Foster Name Meaning". ancestry.com. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
2. ^ "Foster Last Name Popularity, Meaning, and Origin". namecensus.com. Retrieved October 23, 2022.

Surname list

This page lists people with the surname Foster.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.