This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Brewster family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Brewster Family History

Brewster Surname Meaning

English: occupational name for a brewer of beer or ale from Middle English brewestere browestere ‘(female) brewer’ (from Old English brēowan ‘to brew’).

Brewer is the usual term in southern England while Brewster is mainly midland, northern, and Scottish.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Brewster family from?

You can see how Brewster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Brewster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Brewster families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 481 Brewster families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Brewster's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Brewster families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Brewster surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Brewster 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 Brewster. 9% of Brewster men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Brewster women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Brewster were Gardener and Housewife.

View Census Data for Brewster | 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
    9%
  • Carpenter joiner
    4%
  • Retired
    4%
  • Gardener
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Brewster family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 146,000 census records available for the last name Brewster. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Brewster census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Brewster

Passenger Lists

There are 15,000 immigration records available for the last name Brewster. 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 Brewster immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 26,000 military records available for the last name Brewster. For the veterans among your Brewster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Brewster military records

You've only scratched the surface of Brewster family history

Discover More

What is the average Brewster lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Brewster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Brewster in 1941 was 51, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Brewster

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Brewster 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Brewster family tree

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