This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Elter family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Elter Family History

Elter Surname Meaning

German:: distinguishing nickname bestowed on the elder (Middle High German elter) of two bearers of the same personal name or for an alderman in a community.

In North America this surname has frequently been assimilated to English and Scottish Elder.

It is a habitational name for someone from places like Elte, Elten (North Rhine-Westphalia), Eltern (Lower Saxony), or Elters (Hesse).

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Elter family from?

You can see how Elter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Elter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Elter families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 17 Elter families living in Ontario. This was about 52% of all the recorded Elter's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Elter families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Elter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Elter ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Elter. 67% of Elter men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Elter | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    67%
  • Labourer
    34%

What Elter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Elter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Elter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Elter

Passenger Lists

There are 491 immigration records available for the last name Elter. 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 Elter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 541 military records available for the last name Elter. For the veterans among your Elter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Elter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Elter family history

Discover More

What is the average Elter lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Elter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Elter in 1952 was 48, and 61 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Elter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Elter 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 Elter family tree

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