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Bretscher Family History

Bretscher Surname Meaning

Swiss German: occupational name for a sawyer from a shortened form of Brett ‘plank board’ + Scherer ‘cutter’ a derivative of scheren ‘to cut’.

Compare Bratcher.

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


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Where is the Bretscher family from?

You can see how Bretscher families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bretscher family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Bretscher families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 8 Bretscher families living in Missouri. This was about 57% of all the recorded Bretscher's in USA. Missouri had the highest population of Bretscher families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bretscher surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Bretscher ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Owner and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bretscher. 50% of Bretscher men worked as an Owner and 100% of Bretscher women worked as a Teacher.

View Census Data for Bretscher | 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

  • Owner
    50%
  • Salesman
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    100%

What Bretscher family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 567 census records available for the last name Bretscher. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bretscher census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bretscher

Passenger Lists

There are 291 immigration records available for the last name Bretscher. 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 Bretscher immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 218 military records available for the last name Bretscher. For the veterans among your Bretscher ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bretscher military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bretscher family history

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What is the average Bretscher lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Bretscher life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1967, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Bretscher in 1963 was 82, and 81 in 2003.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bretscher 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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