This German surname of AUSTERMAN is of three fold origin. It was a topographic name for someone living to the east of a main settlement, rendered in medieval documents in the Latin form EASTERRA. It also meant 'the dweller by a sheep-fold, and perhaps, the name given to a shepherd or one on charge of the sheep and cattle. It was also a nickname for someone who had some connection with the festival of Easter, such as being born or baptized at that time, or possibly from the name of a pagan festival connected with the dawn. The name has numerous variant spellings which include EASTER, EASTMAN, OSTERER, OSTERMAN, OSTERMANN, OSTERLING, AUSTERMANN and OSTERN. Hereditary surnames were originally imported from France into England during the Norman Conquest of 1066. In the two centuries or so after the Conquest surnames were acquired by most families of major landholders, and many landed families of lesser importance. There appears to have been a constant trickle of migration into Britain between about the years 1200 and 150O, mostly from France and the Low Countries, with a small number of migrants from Scandinavia, Germany, Italy and the Iberian peninsular, and occasional individuals from further afield. During this period groups of aliens settled in this country as for example, the Germans who from the late 15th century onwards settled in Cumbria to work the metal mines. Immigration during this time had only a small effect on the body of surnames used in Britain. In many cases, the surnames of immigrants were thoroughly Anglicised. The late sixteenth century saw the arrival, mostly in London and the south-coast ports of large numbers of people fleeing from the war regions of France. A notable member of the name was George EASTMAN (1854-1932) the American inventor and philanthropist, born in Waterville, New York. He turned from banking to photography, producing a successful roll-film (1884) the 'Kodak' box camera (1888) and joining in experiments which made possible the moving-picture industry. He formed the Eastman Kodak Co. in 1892 and produced the Brownie camera in 1900. He was the founder of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.