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Balster Family History

Balster Name Meaning

English: occupational name or nickname from Middle English balester balister ‘crossbowman’ (Old French balestre). Compare Ballester . North German and Dutch: metathesis of Baltzer . This surname is found mainly in the borderland of Münsterland (Germany) and Overijssel (Netherlands).

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


Similar surnames: Balter, Balser, Belter, Bester, Balmer, Elster, Easter, Malter

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 Balster family from?

You can see how Balster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Balster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Balster families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 35 Balster families living in London. This was about 53% of all the recorded Balster's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Balster families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Balster surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Balster ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Milk Roundsman and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Balster. 50% of Balster men worked as a Milk Roundsman and 90% of Balster women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Balster were Aircraft Progress and Assistant Drapery. .

View Census Data for Balster | 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 1939

  • Milk Roundsman
    50%
  • Aircraft Progress
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    90%
  • Assistant Drapery
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Balster family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Balster. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Balster census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Balster

Passenger Lists

There are 785 immigration records available for the last name Balster. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Balster immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 860 military records available for the last name Balster. For the veterans among your Balster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Balster military records

You've only scratched the surface of Balster family history

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What is the average Balster lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Balster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Balster in 1955 was 54, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Balster

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Balster family tree

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