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Forrestal Family History

Forrestal Name Meaning

Irish and English: apparently from some place in England named as ‘the paddock in front of the farmhouse’ (Middle English fore-stall). There are many minor places so called in southern England such as Fostall in Hernhill Kent and The Forstall in Rotherfield Sussex but the name is associated mainly with Ireland and in Britain with Sunderland in Durham presumably introduced from Ireland. This is the name of a prominent Anglo-Norman Irish family established in Ireland since an early date.

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


Similar surnames: Forrest, Forbes, Forren, Foresta, Forristall, Forrester, Ferrera

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Forrestal family from?

You can see how Forrestal families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Forrestal family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Forrestal families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 5 Forrestal families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 83% of all the recorded Forrestal's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Forrestal families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Forrestal surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Forrestal ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Forrestal. 37% of Forrestal men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Forrestal women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Forrestal were Grain Inspector and Waitress. .

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

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    37%
  • Farmer
    22%
  • Janitor
    11%
  • Grain Inspector
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    50%
  • Waitress
    50%
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What Forrestal family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Forrestal. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Forrestal census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Forrestal

Passenger Lists

There are 882 immigration records available for the last name Forrestal. 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.

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Draft Cards

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

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What is the average Forrestal lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Forrestal life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1967, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Forrestal in 1949 was 58, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Forrestal

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