History of your Surname
Get access to Polster family records.Start a free trial

Polster Family History

Polster Name Meaning

German: from Middle High German bolster polster ‘cushion pillow’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of pillows an upholsterer.

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


Similar surnames: Poster, Kolter, Bolter, Postel, Plaster, Plater, Doster, Porter

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Polster family from?

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

What did your Polster ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Polster. 17% of Polster men worked as a Laborer and 16% of Polster women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Polster were Farming and Laborer. .

View Census Data for Polster | 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
    17%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Salesman
    12%
  • Farming
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    16%
  • Housewife
    16%
  • Clerk
    13%
  • Laborer
    13%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Polster family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Polster. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Polster census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Polster

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Polster. 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 Polster immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Polster. For the veterans among your Polster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Polster military records

You've only scratched the surface of Polster family history

Discover More

What is the average Polster lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Polster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Polster in 1952 was 59, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Polster

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Polster family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Polster last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial