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Bolster Family History

Bolster Name Meaning

Dutch: variant of Balster . English: occupational name for a bowl maker from Middle English bolster ‘bowl maker’. Alternatively a variant of Balster . This English name was taken to Ireland (Cork) early in the 18th century.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Polster, Bolser, Balster, Holster, Boler, Boester, Roster, Boster

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Bolster family from?

You can see how Bolster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bolster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bolster families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 16 Bolster families living in Ontario. This was about 27% of all the recorded Bolster's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Bolster families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bolster surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Bolster ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Nurse were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Bolster. 75% of Bolster men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Bolster women worked as a Nurse. .

View Census Data for Bolster | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    75%
  • Salesman
    13%
  • Painter
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Nurse
    100%
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What Bolster family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 17,000 census records available for the last name Bolster. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bolster census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bolster

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Bolster. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bolster immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Bolster. For the veterans among your Bolster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bolster military records

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What is the average Bolster lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Bolster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Bolster in 1949 was 57, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bolster

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bolster family tree

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