History of your Surname
Get access to Ralston family records.Start a free trial

Ralston Family History

Ralston Name Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from Ralston (Renfrewshire) composed of the personal name Raoul a vernacular form of Ralph + Scots toun ‘farm village’.

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


Similar surnames: Rolston, Ralstin, Alston, Walston, Cranston, Raulston, Salton, Easton

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Ralston family from?

You can see how Ralston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ralston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ralston families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 50 Ralston families living in Lancashire. This was about 37% of all the recorded Ralston's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Ralston families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ralston surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Ralston ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Ralston. 34% of Ralston men worked as an Incapacitated and 74% of Ralston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ralston were Wharf Labourer H W and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Ralston | 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

  • Incapacitated
    34%
  • Marine Engineer
    23%
  • Shipwright
    23%
  • Wharf Labourer H W
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    9%
  • Private Means
    9%
  • Housewife
    4%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ralston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 84,000 census records available for the last name Ralston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ralston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ralston

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Ralston. 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 Ralston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Ralston. For the veterans among your Ralston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ralston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ralston family history

Discover More

What is the average Ralston lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Ralston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Ralston in 1944 was 39, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ralston

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ralston family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Ralston last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial