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Potthast Family History

Potthast Surname Meaning

North German (North Rhine-Westphalia): metonymic occupational name for a cook from Middle Low German potharst (from pot ‘pot’ + harst ‘roast’) a thick soup or stew made with beef and root vegetables.

The word was in common use until around 1850 and is now used locally.

It was replaced by Gulasch.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Potthast family from?

You can see how Potthast families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Potthast family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Potthast families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 11 Potthast families living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Potthast's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Potthast families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Potthast 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 Potthast ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Waitress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Potthast. 58% of Potthast men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Potthast women worked as a Waitress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Potthast were Clerk and Saleslady.

View Census Data for Potthast | 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
    58%
  • Cabinet Maker
    11%
  • Retired
    11%
  • Clerk
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Waitress
    50%
  • Saleslady
    50%

What Potthast family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Potthast

Passenger Lists

There are 250 immigration records available for the last name Potthast. 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 Potthast immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 685 military records available for the last name Potthast. For the veterans among your Potthast ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Potthast military records

You've only scratched the surface of Potthast family history

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What is the average Potthast lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Potthast life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2000, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Potthast in 1962 was 92, and 86 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Potthast

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Potthast 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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