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Ferst Family History

Ferst Surname Meaning

German: unrounded form of Först a variant of Forst

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 Ferst family from?

You can see how Ferst families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ferst family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Ferst families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 7 Ferst families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 70% of all the recorded Ferst's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Ferst families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ferst 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 Ferst ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and New Worker were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ferst. 25% of Ferst men worked as a Laborer and 20% of Ferst women worked as a New Worker. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ferst were Manager and Housewife.

View Census Data for Ferst | 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
    25%
  • Farmer
    18%
  • Salesman
    15%
  • Manager
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • New Worker
    20%
  • Finishing
    14%
  • Clerk
    14%
  • Housewife
    14%

What Ferst family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Ferst. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ferst census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Ferst

Passenger Lists

There are 605 immigration records available for the last name Ferst. 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 Ferst immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 368 military records available for the last name Ferst. For the veterans among your Ferst ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ferst military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ferst family history

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What is the average Ferst lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Ferst life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1994, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Ferst in 1962 was 65, and 90 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ferst

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

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