Alter Family History

Alter Surname Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): distinguishing epithet for the older of two bearers of the same personal name. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish personal name Alter, an inflected form of alt ‘old’. This was in part an omen or well-wishing name expressing the parents’ hope that the child would live a long life; in part a protective name given to a child born after the death of a sibling but also said to have sometimes been assumed by someone who was seriously ill.

The purpose is supposed to have been to confuse the Angel of Death into thinking that the person was old and so not worth claiming as a victim. German: from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with alt ‘old’.

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

Similar surnames: Malter, Alder, Alger, Halter, Balter, Altes, Alber, Elter, Walter, Salter

32K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
13K	Military Records
6K	Immigration Records
37K	Census and Voter Lists
41K	Member Trees

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Where is the Alter family from?

You can see how Alter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Alter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Alter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 40 Alter families living in Ontario. This was about 74% of all the recorded Alter's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Alter families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Alter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Alter

What did your Alter ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Commis were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Alter. 100% of Alter men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Alter women worked as a Commis.

View Census Data for Alter

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.

Farmer

100%

Commis

50%

metal cass maker

50%

What Alter family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 37K census records available for the last name Alter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Alter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Alter

Passenger List

There are 6K immigration records available for the last name Alter. 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 Alter immigration records

Military Records

There are 13K military records available for the last name Alter. For the veterans among your Alter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Alter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Alter family history

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What is the average Alter lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Alter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Alter in 1956 was 81, and 79 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Alter family tree

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Alter Surname Meaning

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

Where is the Alter family from?

What did your Alter ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Commis were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Alter. 100% of Alter men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Alter women worked as a Commis.

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.

Farmer

100%

Commis

50%

metal cass maker

50%

What Alter family records will you find?

What is the average Alter lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Alter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Alter in 1956 was 81, and 79 in 2004.

Alter Family History

Alter Surname Meaning

130,000 record(s) for Alter

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

Where is the Alter family from?

What did your Alter ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1921

Top Female Occupations In 1921

What Alter family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Alter family history

What is the average Alter lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Alter family tree

Search for another surname

Alter Surname Meaning

130,000 record(s) for Alter

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

Where is the Alter family from?

What did your Alter ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1921

Top Female Occupations In 1921

What Alter family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Alter family history

What is the average Alter lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Alter family tree

Search for another surname