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Besta Family History

Besta Surname Meaning

Czech (Bešta): from a pet form of the personal name Šebestián (see Sebastian).

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 Besta family from?

You can see how Besta families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Besta family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Besta families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 9 Besta families living in London. This was about 82% of all the recorded Besta's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Besta families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Besta 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 Besta ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Besta. 43% of Besta men worked as a Laborer and 40% of Besta women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Besta were Clerk and New Worker.

View Census Data for Besta | 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
    43%
  • Inspector
    11%
  • Salesman
    11%
  • Clerk
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    40%
  • Stenographer
    20%
  • Jewlery
    20%
  • New Worker
    20%

What Besta family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Besta

Passenger Lists

There are 272 immigration records available for the last name Besta. 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 Besta immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 88 military records available for the last name Besta. For the veterans among your Besta ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Besta military records

You've only scratched the surface of Besta family history

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What is the average Besta lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2003, in the United States, Besta life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Besta in 1965 was 66, and 67 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Besta

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

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