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Distler Family History

Distler Surname Meaning

German:: topographic name for someone who lived in a place where thistles grew from German Distel ‘thistle’ (see Distel) + -er suffix denoting an inhabitant; alternatively an occupational name for a cutter of the weed.

In some cases in the north, it is an occupational name for a wainwright or hauler from Middle Low German dissel ‘shaft (of a wagon)’.

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


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Where is the Distler family from?

You can see how Distler families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Distler family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Distler families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 66 Distler families living in New York. This was about 28% of all the recorded Distler's in USA. New York had the highest population of Distler families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Distler 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 Distler ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Distler. 20% of Distler men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Distler women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Distler were Machinist and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Distler | 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
    20%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Salesman
    7%
  • Machinist
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    18%
  • Saleslady
    14%
  • Retired
    14%
  • Stenographer
    14%

What Distler family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Distler

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Distler military records

You've only scratched the surface of Distler family history

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What is the average Distler lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Distler life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Distler in 1956 was 45, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Distler

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Distler ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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