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Heister Family History

Heister Surname Meaning

German and Dutch: topographic name meaning ‘beech tree’ (see Hester).

It can also be a habitational name from any of several places so named, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Heister family from?

You can see how Heister families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Heister family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Heister families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 3 Heister families living in Essex. This was about 33% of all the recorded Heister's in United Kingdom. Essex and 1 other county had the highest population of Heister families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Heister 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 Heister ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Heister. 24% of Heister men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Heister women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Heister were Clerk and Waitress.

View Census Data for Heister | 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, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    24%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Proprietor
    8%
  • Clerk
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    18%
  • Housework
    15%
  • Bookkeeper
    15%
  • Waitress
    11%

What Heister family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Heister. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Heister census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Heister

Passenger Lists

There are 873 immigration records available for the last name Heister. 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 Heister immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Heister. For the veterans among your Heister ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Heister military records

You've only scratched the surface of Heister family history

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What is the average Heister lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Heister life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Heister in 1954 was 42, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Heister

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Heister 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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