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Dorsten Family History

Dorsten Surname Meaning

German: habitational name from a place in Westphalia called Dorsten.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dorsten family from?

You can see how Dorsten families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dorsten family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dorsten families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 3 Dorsten families living in London. This was about 60% of all the recorded Dorsten's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Dorsten families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dorsten 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 Dorsten ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Dorsten. 28% of Dorsten men worked as a Farmer and 38% of Dorsten women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dorsten were Assembler and House Wife.

View Census Data for Dorsten | 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

  • Farmer
    28%
  • Laborer
    24%
  • Truck Driver
    8%
  • Assembler
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    38%
  • Housework
    38%
  • House Wife
    25%

What Dorsten family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Dorsten

Passenger Lists

There are 218 immigration records available for the last name Dorsten. 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 Dorsten immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 619 military records available for the last name Dorsten. For the veterans among your Dorsten ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dorsten military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dorsten family history

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What is the average Dorsten lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2003, in the United States, Dorsten life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1990, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Dorsten in 1964 was 69, and 86 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dorsten

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

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