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Zeilstra Family History

Zeilstra Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Zylstra, Gilstrap, Tuinstra, Zeiler, Terpstra, Kerkstra, Veenstra

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Zeilstra family from?

You can see how Zeilstra families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zeilstra family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 3 Zeilstra families living in Michigan. This was about 25% of all the recorded Zeilstra's in USA. Michigan had the highest population of Zeilstra families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zeilstra 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 Zeilstra ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Zeilstra. 34% of Zeilstra men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Zeilstra women worked as a Stenographer.

View Census Data for Zeilstra | 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
    34%
  • Laborer
    23%
  • Operator
    23%
  • Farm Laborer
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    100%

What Zeilstra family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 388 census records available for the last name Zeilstra. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zeilstra census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Zeilstra

Passenger Lists

There are 102 immigration records available for the last name Zeilstra. 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 Zeilstra immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 68 military records available for the last name Zeilstra. For the veterans among your Zeilstra ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Zeilstra military records

You've only scratched the surface of Zeilstra family history

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What is the average Zeilstra lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Zeilstra life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Zeilstra in 1963 was 64, and 91 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zeilstra

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Zeilstra 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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