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Pelster Family History

Pelster Name Meaning

German: variant of Ballester .

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


Similar surnames: Ferster, Peaster, Elster, Pester, Plaster, Selter, Bolster, Eister

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Pelster family from?

You can see how Pelster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pelster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pelster families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 2 Pelster families living in Manitoba. This was about 50% of all the recorded Pelster's in Canada. Manitoba and 1 other province had the highest population of Pelster families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pelster surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Pelster ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pelster. 49% of Pelster men worked as a Farmer and 17% of Pelster women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pelster were Truck Driver and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Pelster | 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
    49%
  • Salesman
    14%
  • Farm Laborer
    14%
  • Truck Driver
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    17%
  • House Maid
    17%
  • Housework
    17%
  • Stenographer
    17%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Pelster family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Pelster

Passenger Lists

There are 267 immigration records available for the last name Pelster. 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 Pelster immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 236 military records available for the last name Pelster. For the veterans among your Pelster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pelster military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pelster family history

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What is the average Pelster lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Pelster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Pelster in 1951 was 32, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pelster

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Pelster family tree

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