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

Bolger Family History

Bolger Name Meaning

English (of Norman origin): occupational name for a leather worker from Old French boulgier an agent derivative of Old French boulge ‘leather bag wallet’ (Middle English bulge). Irish (South Leinster): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Bolguidhir ‘descendant of Bolgodhar’ a personal name composed of the elements bolg ‘belly’ + odhar ‘yellow sallow’.

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


Similar surnames: Bolter, Boger, Belger, Roger, Boller, Booker, Burger, Bolmer, Bogen

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 Bolger family from?

You can see how Bolger families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bolger family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bolger families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Bolger families living in New Jersey. This was about 33% of all the recorded Bolger's in USA. New Jersey had the highest population of Bolger families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bolger surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Bolger ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bolger. 15% of Bolger men worked as a Laborer and 12% of Bolger women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bolger were Farmer and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Bolger | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    15%
  • Salesman
    10%
  • Clerk
    9%
  • Farmer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    12%
  • Stenographer
    9%
  • Waitress
    8%
  • Clerk
    8%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Bolger family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Bolger

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Bolger. 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.

View all Bolger immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Bolger. For the veterans among your Bolger ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bolger military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bolger family history

Discover More

What is the average Bolger lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Bolger life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Bolger in 1942 was 48, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bolger

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bolger family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Bolger last name

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