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Kester Family History

Kester Surname Meaning

Dutch (also Van Kester) and German: habitational name from any of the places with a name formed with kester from Latin castra ‘army camp’.

It is linked to locations such as Kester in Belgian Brabant or Kesteren in the Betuwe.

These names reflect historical connections to military establishments.

The etymology reveals the significance of these sites in the context of European history.

Understanding the origins of such names can provide insights into local heritage and geography.

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


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Where is the Kester family from?

You can see how Kester families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kester family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kester families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 78 Kester families living in Cambridgeshire. This was about 49% of all the recorded Kester's in United Kingdom. Cambridgeshire had the highest population of Kester families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kester 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 Kester ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farm Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kester. 22% of Kester men worked as a Farm Labourer and 78% of Kester women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kester were Agricultural Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Kester | 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

  • Farm Labourer
    22%
  • Builders Labourer
    16%
  • Colliery Turnsman (below) H W
    16%
  • Agricultural Labourer
    16%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Domestic
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Housewife
    4%

What Kester family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 36,000 census records available for the last name Kester. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kester census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kester

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Kester. 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 Kester immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Kester. For the veterans among your Kester ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kester military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kester family history

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What is the average Kester lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Kester life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Kester in 1945 was 41, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kester

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kester 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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