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Bolster Family History

Bolster Surname Meaning

Dutch: variant of Balster. English: occupational name for a bowl maker from Middle English bolster ‘bowl maker’.

Alternatively a variant of Balster. This English name was taken to Ireland (Cork) early in the 18th century.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Bolster family from?

You can see how Bolster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bolster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bolster families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 37 Bolster families living in London. This was about 39% of all the recorded Bolster's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Bolster families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bolster 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 Bolster ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bolster. 60% of Bolster men worked as a General Labourer and 78% of Bolster women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bolster were General Labourer Heavy Worker and Housewife.

View Census Data for Bolster | 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

  • General Labourer
    60%
  • Roadstone Quarrier
    20%
  • General Labourer Heavy Worker
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Housewife
    6%

What Bolster family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 17,000 census records available for the last name Bolster. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bolster census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bolster

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Bolster. For the veterans among your Bolster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bolster military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bolster family history

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What is the average Bolster lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Bolster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Bolster in 1949 was 57, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bolster

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bolster 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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