History of your Surname
Get access to Custer family records.Start a free trial

Custer Family History

Custer Name Meaning

Americanized form of German Köster or Küster ‘sexton’ (see Kuster ). Swiss German: variant of Kuster . English and Scottish (of Norman origin): occupational name from Old French coustier (masculine) coustiere (feminine) for a maker of feather beds or cushions. English: variant of Coster . In some cases also an Americanized form of Croatian and Slovenian Kušter or Kuster .

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


Similar surnames: Caster, Coster, Kuster, Cutter, Muster, Luster, Guster, Auster

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Custer family from?

You can see how Custer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Custer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Custer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 7 Custer families living in Ontario. This was about 28% of all the recorded Custer's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Custer families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Custer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Custer ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Custer. 65% of Custer men worked as a Farmer. .

View Census Data for Custer | 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
    65%
  • Manager
    12%
  • Carpenter
    12%
  • Clerk
    12%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Custer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 51,000 census records available for the last name Custer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Custer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Custer

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Custer. 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 Custer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 17,000 military records available for the last name Custer. For the veterans among your Custer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Custer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Custer family history

Discover More

What is the average Custer lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Custer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Custer in 1943 was 26, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Custer

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Custer family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Custer last name

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