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Smelter Family History

Smelter 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: Stelter, Selter, Smeltzer, Smelser, Smelcer, Seller, Malter, Setter

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Smelter family from?

You can see how Smelter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Smelter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Smelter families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 2 Smelter families living in London. This was about 33% of all the recorded Smelter's in United Kingdom. London and 2 other counties had the highest population of Smelter families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smelter 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 Smelter ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Smelter. 39% of Smelter men worked as a Laborer and 43% of Smelter women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Smelter were Farmer and Secretary.

View Census Data for Smelter | 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
    39%
  • Auto Mechanic
    17%
  • Farm Labor
    12%
  • Farmer
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    43%
  • Stenographer
    29%
  • Secretary
    29%

What Smelter family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Smelter

Passenger Lists

There are 88 immigration records available for the last name Smelter. 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 Smelter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 553 military records available for the last name Smelter. For the veterans among your Smelter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Smelter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Smelter family history

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What is the average Smelter lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Smelter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Smelter in 1947 was 66, and 55 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Smelter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Smelter 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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