This interesting surname of Germanic origin is a contracted form of Schuster, itself deriving from the Middle High German "schuochsutoere", a compound of the elements "schuoch", a shoe, plus "sutoere" a sewer, and originated as an occupational name for a maker or repairer of shoes. The diminutive forms of the surname appear as Schusterl, Schustl, Schiesterl, Schiestl and Schiestel. On December 12th 1601, Agnetha, daughter of Johannes and Catharine Schust, was christened in Doerlesberg, Mosbach, Baden, and the marriage of Michael Schust to Apollina Laydig took place in January 1641 in Reinsberg, Jagstkreis, Wuertt. A coat of arms granted to the Shuster family of Nuremberg depicts a black boot from which emerges three full blown roses on a gold shield. The boot symbolises the profession and the rose, the most beautiful of flowers, represents, Beauty and Grace of design. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jacob Schust, (marriage to Barbara Schuab), which was dated August 17th 1597, at Enslingen, Jagstkreis, Wuertt, during the reign of Emperor Rudolf 11, Habsburg Emperor, 1576 - 1612. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.