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Alters Family History

Alters Surname Meaning

Probably an altered form of German Alter or of Dutch German or possibly English Alders.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Alters family from?

You can see how Alters families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Alters family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Alters families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 2 Alters families living in Ontario. This was about 50% of all the recorded Alters's in Canada. Ontario and 1 other province had the highest population of Alters families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Alters 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 Alters ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Alters. 33% of Alters men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Alters women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Alters were Salesman and Housewife.

View Census Data for Alters | 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
    33%
  • Farmer
    30%
  • Foreman
    9%
  • Salesman
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    50%
  • Housewife
    50%

What Alters family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Alters

Passenger Lists

There are 180 immigration records available for the last name Alters. 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 Alters immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Alters. For the veterans among your Alters ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Alters military records

You've only scratched the surface of Alters family history

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What is the average Alters lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Alters life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Alters in 1952 was 58, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Alters

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Alters 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Alters family tree

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