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Gilster Family History

Gilster Surname Meaning

German: probably a nickname either from an agent derivative of Middle High German gelstern ‘to yell or shout’

or from Low German gilsterig ‘lascivious’.

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 Gilster family from?

You can see how Gilster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gilster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Gilster families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there was 1 Gilster family living in British Columbia. This was 100% of all the recorded Gilster's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Gilster families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gilster 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 Gilster ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gilster. 70% of Gilster men worked as a Farmer and 56% of Gilster women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gilster were Machinist and School Teacher.

View Census Data for Gilster | 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

  • Farmer
    70%
  • Gardening
    8%
  • Clerk
    8%
  • Machinist
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    56%
  • Housekeeper
    23%
  • School Teacher
    23%

What Gilster family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Gilster. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gilster census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Gilster

Passenger Lists

There are 222 immigration records available for the last name Gilster. 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 Gilster immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 154 military records available for the last name Gilster. For the veterans among your Gilster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gilster military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gilster family history

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What is the average Gilster lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Gilster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 1975. The average life expectancy for Gilster in 1966 was 73, and 30 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gilster

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gilster 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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