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Forsten Family History

Forsten 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: Forster, Forston, Dorsten, Fortun, Osten, Porten, Forte, Kosten

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Forsten family from?

You can see how Forsten families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Forsten family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Forsten families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 14 Forsten families living in Durham. This was about 28% of all the recorded Forsten's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Forsten families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Forsten 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 Forsten ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Forsten. 34% of Forsten men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Forsten | 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
    34%
  • Clerk
    23%
  • Machinist
    23%
  • Foreman
    23%

What Forsten family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Forsten

Passenger Lists

There are 878 immigration records available for the last name Forsten. 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 Forsten immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Forsten military records

You've only scratched the surface of Forsten family history

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What is the average Forsten lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2003, in the United States, Forsten life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Forsten in 1965 was 85, and 85 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Forsten

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

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