Hester is both a female
given name
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...
and a
surname
In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community.
Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...
. As a given name Hester is a variant of
Esther. As a surname it is of Germanic origin and uncertain meaning, possible roots being the Middle High German ''heister'' beech tree indicating residence near a beech tree, or a shared root with the modern German ''heißen'' to call indicating the profession of herald or town crier. In Ireland, particularly County Mayo, the surname Hester is found as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic ''Ó hOistir'' descendant of Oistir.
Given name
*
Hester Adrian, Baroness Adrian
Hester Agnes Adrian, Baroness Adrian, ( Pinsent; 16 September 1899 – 20 May 1966) was a British mental health worker.
Early life
Hester Agnes Pinsent was born in 1899, in Harborne, Birmingham, Staffordshire, the only daughter of Hume Chancell ...
(1899—1966), British mental health worker
*
Hester Bateman
Hester Bateman (bap. 1708 – 16 September 1794) was an English silversmith, renowned for her high quality flatware and ornamental silverware. A craftswoman working within the family business, she was succeeded in turn by her sons, daughter-in-law ...
(bap. 1708–1794), English silversmith
*
Hester A. Benedict
Hester A. Benedict (, Baldwin; after first marriage, Benedict; after second marriage, Dickinson; October 2, 1838 – December 28, 1921) was an American poet and writer. She had a literary reputation in the East before her removal to California whe ...
(1838-1921), American poet and writer
*
Hester Biddle
Hester (or Esther) Biddle (c. 1629–1697) was an English Quaker writer and itinerant preacher who "addressed pugnacious pamphlets to those who persecuted religious dissenters, worshipped in the Anglican church, or refused to help the poor."Alan ...
(c. 1629–97), English Quaker writer
*
Hester Chapone
Hester Chapone ''née'' Mulso (27 October 1727, Twywell, Northamptonshire – 25 December 1801, Hadwell, Middlesex), was an English writer of conduct books for women. She became associated with the London Bluestockings.
Life
Hester, the daug ...
(1727–1801), British author
*
Hester A. Davis (1930–2014), American archaeologist
*
Hester Dowden
Hester Dowden (1868–1949), also known as Hester Travers Smith, was an Irish spiritualist medium who is most notable for having claimed to contact the spirits of Oscar Wilde, William Shakespeare and other writers. Dowden's writings were publis ...
(1868–1949), Irish spiritualist medium
*
Hester Dunn
Hester Rogers (born 1940) is a Northern Irish former loyalist activist and writer who was a member of the Ulster Defence Association's (UDA) political wing during the period of religious-political conflict known as the Troubles. She headed the UDA' ...
(b. 1940), Northern Irish former loyalist activist and writer
*
Hester Maria Elphinstone, Viscountess Keith
Hester Maria Elphinstone, Viscountess Keith, born Hester Maria Thrale (17 September 1764 – 31 March 1857), was a British literary correspondent and intellectual. She was the eldest child of Hester Thrale, diarist, author and confidante of Sam ...
(1764-1857), British literary correspondent and intellectual
*
Hester Goodsell
Hester Goodsell (born 27 June 1984) is a British rower and music teacher.
Rowing career
Goodsell rowed in the Women's Lightweight Double Sculls at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
She was part of the British squad that topped the medal table at th ...
(born 1984), British rower
*
Hester Grenville, 1st Countess Temple
Hester Grenville, 1st Countess Temple, 2nd Viscountess Cobham (''née'' Temple; –1752) was an English noblewoman. She was the mother and grandmother of the Prime Ministers George Grenville and William Grenville.
Life and family
She was t ...
(c. 1690–1752), English noblewoman
*
Hester Jane Haskins
Hester Jane Haskins or Jane the Grabber ( fl. 1860–1875) was an American madam, procuress, and underworld figure in New York City during the 1860s and 1870s. The main rival of Red Light Lizzie, she owned and operated several "houses of ill f ...
(fl. 1860–75), American madam, procuress, and underworld figure
*
Hester Kaplan
Hester Margaret Kaplan is an American short story writer, and novelist.
Life
Kaplan was born to a Jewish family, the daughter of novelist Anne (née Bernays) and author Justin Kaplan. Her maternal grandparents were Doris Fleischman and Edward ...
, American author
*
Hester Maclean
Hester Maclean (25 February 1859 – 2 September 1932) was an Australian-born nurse, hospital matron, nursing administrator, editor and writer who spent most of her career in New Zealand. She served in World War I as the founding Matron-in-Ch ...
(1859–1932), New Zealand nurse, editor and writer
*
Maria Hester Park (1760–1813), British composer, pianist, and singer
*
Hester Pitt, Countess of Chatham (1720–1803), wife of William Pitt (the Elder), 1st Earl of Chatham, who was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768
*
Lady Hester Pulter (b. 1605), British writer
*
Catherine Hester Ralfe Catherine Hester Ralfe (1831–1912) was a New Zealand dressmaker, teacher, storekeeper, housekeeper and diarist. She was born in Bantry Bay, County Cork, Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an isl ...
(c. 1831–1912), New Zealand dressmaker, teacher, storekeeper, housekeeper and diarist
*
Hester Dorsey Richardson
Hester Dorsey Richardson (, Dorsey; pen name, Selene; January 9, 1862 – December 10, 1933) was an American author of several historical studies of Maryland, as well as a genealogist and clubwoman. Among her publications were ''The Origin and Cus ...
(1862-1933), American author
*
Hester Santlow (c. 1690–1773), British dancer and actress
*
Lady Hester Stanhope (1776–1839), British socialite, adventurer and traveler
*
Hester Thrale
Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi (née Salusbury; later Piozzi; 27 January 1741 or 16 January 1740 – 2 May 1821),Contemporary records, which used the Julian calendar and the Annunciation Style of enumerating years, recorded her birth as 16 January ...
(1741–1821), British diarist, author, and patron of the arts
*
Hester van Eeghen
Hester van Eeghen (11 November 1958 – 8 April 2021) was a Dutch designer of leather bags, wallets and accessories.
Life
Hester van Eeghen was born in Amsterdam, the youngest of five children. Her family has been involved in the arts in The Net ...
(1958–2021), Dutch designer
*
Hester Wagstaff
Hester is both a female given name and a surname. As a given name Hester is a variant of Esther. As a surname it is of Germanic origin and uncertain meaning, possible roots being the Middle High German ''heister'' beech tree indicating residence ne ...
(b. 1892), British jewellery designer, potter and illustrator
Surname
*
Bart Hester
Bart Franklin Hester (born December 9, 1977) is an American politician serving as a member of the Arkansas Senate from the 1st district. Elected in November 2012, he assumed office on January 14, 2013.
Early life and education
A native of Conwa ...
(b. 1977), American politician
*
Benny Hester (b. 1948), American music artist and songwriter
*
Betty Hester
Hazel Elizabeth Hester (June 1, 1923 – December 26, 1998) was an American correspondent of influential twentieth-century writers, including Flannery O'Connor and Iris Murdoch. Hester wrote several short stories, poems, diaries, and philosophical ...
(1923-1998), American correspondent
*
Carolyn Hester
Carolyn Sue Hester (born January 28, 1937) is an American folk singer and songwriter. She was a figure in the early 1960s folk music revival.
Biography
Hester's first album was produced by Norman Petty in 1957. She made her second album for Tr ...
(b. 1937), American folk singer and songwriter
*
Dave Hester, star of A&E TV's ''Storage Wars''
*
Devin Hester (b. 1982), American football player
*
Drew Hester
Drew Hester (born August 26, 1969) is a drummer, percussionist, and record producer, winning two Grammy Awards with Foo Fighters. He has played drums with Joe Walsh (1999—2016) on drums, Stevie Nicks (2017–present) on drums, Beck (2014) on dr ...
(b. 1969), American percussionist and record producer
*
Eric Hester
Eric John Michael Hester (born January 9, 1974) is an American composer.
Early life and family
Eric Hester was born on January 9, 1974, in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1979, he moved with his family to Newport Beach, California. In 1988, he moved to ...
(b. 1974), American composer
*
Hugh B. Hester
Hugh Bryan Hester (August 5, 1895 – November 25, 1983) was U.S. Army Brigadier General. He was a decorated officer in both World Wars. Later in life, he was a noted critic of U.S. foreign policy.
Education and career
Hugh Hester was born ...
(1895-1983), American army officer
*
Jack W. Hester
Jack William Hester (June 22, 1929 – April 29, 1999) was an American farmer and politician who served as a member of the Iowa Senate from 1979 to 1993.
Early life and education
Born in Modale, Iowa, Hester graduated from Persia High Schoo ...
(1929-1999), American politician
*
Jacob Hester (b. 1985), American football player
*
James McNaughton Hester
James McNaughton Hester (19 April 1924 – 31 December 2014) was an internationally recognized educator.
Hester was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. He spent his boyhood at various stations to which his father, a United States Navy Chaplain, was ...
(1924-2014), American educator
*
Jessie Hester
Jessie Lee Hester (born January 21, 1963) is a former professional American football wide receiver who played 11 years in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Raiders, the Atlanta Falcons, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Los Angele ...
(b. 1963), American football player
*
Joan Hester
Joan L. Hester (née Goshorn; November 20, 1932 – November 19, 2019) was an American politician in the state of Iowa. Hester was born in Persia, Iowa. She was married to Jack W. Hester, who served in the Iowa State Senate. A Republican, she serv ...
(b. 1932), American politician
*
John Hester
John Graves Hester (born September 14, 1983) is a former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. On August 28, 2009, on his major league debut, he ...
(b. 1983), American baseball player
*
Joy Hester (1920-1960), Australian artist
*
Laurel Hester
Laurel Anne Hester (August 15, 1956 – February 18, 2006) was a police lieutenant with the Ocean County, New Jersey Prosecutor's Office, who came to national attention with her deathbed appeal for the extension of pension benefits to her domestic ...
(1956–2006), American police officer and advocate of rights of domestic partners
*
Leigh Ann Hester
Leigh Ann Hester (born January 12, 1982) is a United States Army National Guard soldier. While assigned to the 617th Military Police Company, a Kentucky Army National Guard unit out of Richmond, Kentucky, Hester received the Silver Star for h ...
(b. 1982), American soldier and Silver Star recipient
*
Lex Hester
Lewis Alexander Hester, III (December 24, 1935 – October 7, 2000) was a public administrator in Jacksonville, Florida. He "was the consummate no-nonsense administrator, the very best in his field," according to M. C. Harden III, past chairman of ...
(1935–2000), American public administrator
*
Marc Hester
Marc Hester Hansen (born 28 June 1985) is a Denmark, Danish professional bicycle racer.
Hester rode for Firefighters Upsala CK for the 2014 season. In December 2014 Hester was announced as part of the inaugural squad for the ONE Pro Cycling team ...
(b. 1985), Danish professional bicycle racer
*
Michael Hester
Michael Hester (born 2 May 1972), is a former New Zealand association football referee in the A-League. Holder of a FIFA international licence, he has participated at the highest level, officiating at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Biography
Heste ...
(b. 1972), Australian-born New Zealand association football referee
*
Paul Hester (1959–2005), Australian musician
*
Paul V. Hester
General Paul V. Hester (born October 21, 1947) is a retired United States Air Force officer. He served as Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander, United States Pacific Command from July 2004 to November 2007. ...
(b. 1947), American Air Force officer
*
Phil Hester (comics) (b. 1966), comic book artist and writer
*
Phillip Doyce Hester
Phillip ("Phil") Doyce Hester (April 30, 1955 - September 17, 2013) was an American engineer and technology executive.
Life
Hester grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, and attended Richard King High School. He held a Bachelor of Science and a mast ...
(b. 1955), former chief technology officer of Advanced Micro Devices
*
Randolph T. Hester
Randolph T. Hester is a professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at the University of California at Berkeley. Hester is also a sociologist, practicing landscape architect and co-director of ''Community Deve ...
American professor, sociologist, and landscape architect
*
Ray Hester
Ray Hester (March 31, 1949 – May 15, 1977) was a professional American football player who played linebacker for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1973, and The Hawaiians of the WFL in 1974. He was diagnosed with leukemia
Leukemia ( als ...
(1949–1977), American football player
*
Rita Hester
The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), also known as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, has been observed annually (from its inception) on November 20 as a day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transp ...
(d. 1998), transgender African American murder victim
*
Sandra Hester
Sandra Wheeler Hester is an activist and former television host from New Orleans.
Prior to Hurricane Katrina, she hosted the Hester Report on Public-access television in New Orleans. Her programs were generally critical of local government, part ...
, American activist and former television host
*
Stephen Hester
Stephen A. M. Hester (born 14 December 1960) is an international businessman and former banker. He is Chairman of Nordea Bank and easyJet and former chief executive officer (CEO) of RSA Insurance Group, of RBS Group and of British Land.
Early ...
(b. 1960),
CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
of
RSA Insurance Group
RSA Insurance Group Limited (doing business as, trading as RSA, formerly RSA Insurance Group plc and Royal and Sun Alliance) is a British Multinational corporation, multinational general insurance company headquartered in London, England. RSA has ...
*
Treyvon Hester
Treyvon Ramal Hester (born September 21, 1992) is an American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Toledo, and was selected in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.
Profession ...
(b. 1992), American football player
*
Wallace Hester
Robert Wallace Hester (1866-1942) was a British artist, engraver, and caricaturist who made witty illustrations of famous people for '' Vanity Fair''. He used the abbreviations and pseudonyms 'W. Hester', 'Hester', 'WH' and 'WH-'.
Wallace's fa ...
(1866-1942), British
caricaturist
A caricaturist is an artist who specializes in drawing caricatures.
List of caricaturists
* Abed Abdi (born 1942)
* Al Hirschfeld (1903–2003)
* Alex Gard (1900–1948)
* Alexander Saroukhan (1898–1977)
* Alfred Grévin (1827–1892)
* Alf ...
for ''
Vanity Fair''
*
William Hester
William Ewing Hester Jr. (May 7, 1912 – February 8, 1993), also known as Slew Hester, was an American tennis player and official. He was president of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) from 1977 to 1978, and the first USTA president fro ...
, also known as Slew Hester (1912-1993), American tennis official
Fictional characters
*
Hester Latterly
Hester Latterly is a main character of Anne Perry's ''Monk'' detective series. She is a nurse by trade who served with Florence Nightingale in the Crimea. Upon her return home in 1856 she finds her family in a shambles and meets William Monk who is ...
, main character of
Anne Perry's ''Monk'' detective series
*
Hester Prynne
Hester Prynne is the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 novel ''The Scarlet Letter''. She is portrayed as a woman condemned by her Puritan neighbors. The character has been called "among the first and most important female protagonists in ...
, main character of
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. His works often focus on history, morality, and religion.
He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, from a family long associated with that t ...
's ''
The Scarlet Letter
''The Scarlet Letter: A Romance'' is a work of historical fiction
Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym ...
''
* ''
The Character and Death of Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers
''The Character and Death of Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers'' is a Methodist tract from 1794, still in print in 2008. The text is a publication of the sermon given by the Reverend Thomas Coke upon the death of the Methodist writer Hester Rogers, with an ...
'', a 1794 Methodist tract
*
Hester Shaw
Hester Shaw, later known as Hester Natsworthy, is the lead heroine of Philip Reeve's ''Mortal Engines Quartet''.
Background and life
Hester Shaw, aged around fifteen at the beginning of the Quartet, is the daughter of Thaddeus Valentine and Pa ...
, a character from
Philip Reeve's ''
Mortal Engines Quartet''
* Hester Ulrich, a character from the 2015 American
horror
Horror may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Genres
*Horror fiction, a genre of fiction
** Japanese horror, Japanese horror fiction
**Korean horror, Korean horror fiction
* Horror film, a film genre
*Horror comics, comic books focusing o ...
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...
, ''
Scream Queens.''
*
Hester Crane, mother of
Frasier Crane of Cheers and Frasier television shows.
* Hester, the daemon companion of Lee Scoresby in
Philip Pullman's
His Dark Materials series.
* Hester Sherwood, one of the four characters from the Australian 2002 play ''Wicked Sisters'' by
Alma De Groen.
* Hester, the daughter of the witch from Hansel and Gretel in School for Good and Evil
See also
*
*
Hessy Hessy or Hessie is a given name or nickname. It is the name of:
*Hessie (1936–2017), Cuban-French textile artist
*Hessie Donahue (1874–1961), American matron and stunt boxer
*Hessy Helfman (1855–1882), Russian revolutionary and assassin
*Paul ...
, a related name and nickname
{{given name, type=both
English feminine given names