Gilster Family History

Gilster Surname Meaning

German: probably a nickname either from an agent derivative of Middle High German gelstern ‘to yell or shout’

or from Low German gilsterig ‘lascivious’.

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

Similar surnames: Galster, Gitter, Gerster, Giltner, Finster, Polster, Gieser, Ganster, Riester, Galler

5,000 record(s) for Gilster

1K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
154	Military Records
222	Immigration Records
1K	Census and Voter Lists
1K	Member Trees

Where is the Gilster family from?

You can see how Gilster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gilster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Gilster families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 9 Gilster families living in Iowa. This was about 56% of all the recorded Gilster's in USA. Iowa had the highest population of Gilster families in 1880.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gilster surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Gilster ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gilster. 70% of Gilster men worked as a Farmer and 56% of Gilster women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gilster were Machinist and School teacher.

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 1940

Farmer

70%

gardening

8%

Clerk

8%

Machinist

8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

Housework

56%

Housekeeper

23%

School teacher

23%

What Gilster family records will you find?

Census Record

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

Passenger List

There are 222 immigration records available for the last name Gilster. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

Military Records

There are 154 military records available for the last name Gilster. For the veterans among your Gilster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

What is the average Gilster lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Gilster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 1975. The average life expectancy for Gilster in 1966 was 73, and 30 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gilster 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.