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Gaiter Family History

Gaiter Name Meaning

English: occupational name from northern Middle English gater ‘goatherd’ a derivative of Middle English gayte ‘goat’ (from Old English gāt with preservation of the unrounded northern ā or from Old Norse geit). The surname is found in northern England and the Midlands and has probably also absorbed Middle English gaythird ‘goatherd’. English: topographic name from Middle English gater ‘dweller by the town gate or gateway’. This type of name derived from a topographic term + -er is found mainly in southern England especially Kent Sussex and Hampshire. Americanized form of German Geiter which is unexplained or of some other similar (like-sounding) surname.

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


Similar surnames: Gater, Ganter, Satter, Gaither, Gaster, Darter, Gainer, Grinter

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Where is the Gaiter family from?

You can see how Gaiter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gaiter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gaiter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 8 Gaiter families living in Ontario. This was about 89% of all the recorded Gaiter's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Gaiter families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gaiter 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 Gaiter ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laundress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gaiter. 60% of Gaiter men worked as a Laborer and 28% of Gaiter women worked as a Laundress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gaiter were Truck Driver and Cook. .

View Census Data for Gaiter | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    60%
  • Farmer
    18%
  • Porter
    12%
  • Truck Driver
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laundress
    28%
  • Maid
    20%
  • Servant
    12%
  • Cook
    12%
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What Gaiter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Gaiter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gaiter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Gaiter

Passenger Lists

There are 390 immigration records available for the last name Gaiter. 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 Gaiter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 661 military records available for the last name Gaiter. For the veterans among your Gaiter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gaiter military records

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What is the average Gaiter lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2003, in the United States, Gaiter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Gaiter in 1955 was 50, and 64 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gaiter

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