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 Italian origin and uncertain meaning. In Ireland, particularly County Mayo, the surname Hester is found as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó hOistir descendant of Oistir, who was likely an early 13th century immigrant from Tuscany.
Given name
Hester Adrian, Baroness Adrian (1899—1966), British mental health worker
Hester Bateman (bap. 1708–1794), English silversmith
Hester A. Benedict (1838-1921), American poet and writer
Hester Biddle (c. 1629–97), English Quaker writer
Hester Chapone (1727–1801), British author
Hester A. Davis (1930–2014), American archaeologist
Hester Dowden (1868–1949), Irish spiritualist medium
Hester Dunn (b. 1940), Northern Irish former loyalist activist and writer
Hester Maria Elphinstone, Viscountess Keith (1764-1857), British literary correspondent and intellectual Hester Goodsell (born 1984), British rower Hester Grenville, 1st Countess Temple (c. 1690–1752), English noblewoman Hester Jane Haskins (fl. 1860–75), American madam, procuress, and underworld figure Hester Kaplan, American author Hester Maclean (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 (1605–1678), British writer Catherine Hester Ralfe (c. 1831–1912), New Zealand dressmaker, teacher, storekeeper, housekeeper and diarist Hester Dorsey Richardson (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 (1741–1821), British diarist, author, and patron of the arts Hester van Eeghen (1958–2021), Dutch designer
Surname
Bart Hester (b. 1977), American politician
Benny Hester (b. 1948), American music artist and songwriter
Betty Hester (1923-1998), American correspondent
Carolyn Hester (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 (b. 1969), American percussionist and record producer
Eric Hester (b. 1974), American composer
Frank Hester (b. 1966), British businessman
Hugh B. Hester (1895-1983), American army officer
Jack W. Hester (1929-1999), American politician
Jacob Hester (b. 1985), American football player
James McNaughton Hester (1924-2014), American educator
Jessie Hester (b. 1963), American football player
Joan Hester (1932–2019), American politician
John Hester (b. 1983), American baseball player
Joy Hester (1920-1960), Australian artist
Laurel Hester (1956–2006), American police officer and advocate of rights of domestic partners Leigh Ann Hester (b. 1982), American soldier and Silver Star recipient Lex Hester (1935–2000), American public administrator Marc Hester (b. 1985), Danish professional bicycle racer Michael Hester (b. 1972), Australian-born New Zealand association football referee Paul Hester (1959–2005), Australian musician Paul V. Hester (b. 1947), American Air Force officer Phil Hester (comics) (b. 1966), comic book artist and writer Phillip Doyce Hester (1955–2013), former chief technology officer of Advanced Micro Devices Randolph T. Hester American professor, sociologist, and landscape architect Ray Hester (1949–1977), American football player Rita Hester (d. 1998), transgender African American murder victim Sandra Hester, American activist and former television host Stephen Hester (b. 1960), CEO of RSA Insurance Group Treyvon Hester (b. 1992), American football player Wallace Hester (1866-1942), British caricaturist for Vanity Fair William Hester, also known as Slew Hester (1912-1993), American tennis official