Foster (surname)

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

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

A

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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
 * Montorie Foster (born 2001), American football player
 * 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

 * 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

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

P

 * 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

 * 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
 * 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
 * Rylee Foster (born 1988), Canadian soccer player

S

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

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

Z

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

A

 * 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

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

C

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

D

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

E

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

F

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

G

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

H

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

I

 * Ian Foster (disambiguation)

J

 * 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

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

L

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

M

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

N

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

P

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

R

 * 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

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

T

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

W

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

Fictional characters

 * 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