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Pelser Family History

Pelser Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Peller, Peiser, Peyser, Pelzer, Felser, Pelter, Selser, Belser

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pelser family from?

You can see how Pelser families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pelser family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pelser families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2 Pelser families living in Devon. This was about 50% of all the recorded Pelser's in United Kingdom. Devon and 1 other county had the highest population of Pelser families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pelser 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 Pelser ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Farm Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pelser. 32% of Pelser men worked as a Laborer and 56% of Pelser women worked as a Farm Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pelser were Salesman and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Pelser | 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
    32%
  • Farm Laborer
    22%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • Salesman
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Farm Laborer
    56%
  • Teacher
    23%
  • Stenographer
    23%

What Pelser family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Pelser

Passenger Lists

There are 498 immigration records available for the last name Pelser. 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 Pelser immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 445 military records available for the last name Pelser. For the veterans among your Pelser ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pelser military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pelser family history

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What is the average Pelser lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Pelser life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2003, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Pelser in 1963 was 67, and 5 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pelser

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pelser 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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