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Webster Family History

Webster Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: occupational name for a weaver from Middle English webbester ‘weaver’ (Old English webbestre ‘female weaver’).

By the time of surname formation the gender distinction of the -stre suffix had almost completely disappeared.

Compare Webb, Webber, and Weaver.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Webster family from?

You can see how Webster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Webster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Webster families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 6,511 Webster families living in Yorkshire. This was about 27% of all the recorded Webster's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Webster families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Webster 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 Webster 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 Webster. 6% of Webster men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Webster women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Webster were Bricklayer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Webster | 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
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Farmer
    2%
  • Bricklayer
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Webster family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 900,000 census records available for the last name Webster. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Webster census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Webster

Passenger Lists

There are 186,000 immigration records available for the last name Webster. 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 Webster immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 109,000 military records available for the last name Webster. For the veterans among your Webster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Webster military records

You've only scratched the surface of Webster family history

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What is the average Webster lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Webster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Webster in 1940 was 47, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Webster

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Webster 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 Webster family tree

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