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Pelter Family History

Pelter Name Meaning

English: occupational name from Middle English pel(e)ter ‘skinner furrier’ (Old French peltier).

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


Similar surnames: Peller, Pelzer, Petter, Pester, Belter, Kelter, Elter, Peter, Pepper

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Pelter family from?

You can see how Pelter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pelter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pelter families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 4 Pelter families living in Virginia. This was about 67% of all the recorded Pelter's in USA. Virginia had the highest population of Pelter families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pelter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Pelter ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pelter. 17% of Pelter men worked as a Laborer and 17% of Pelter women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pelter were Manager and Secretary. .

View Census Data for Pelter | 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
    17%
  • Farmer
    17%
  • Salesman
    11%
  • Manager
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    17%
  • Teacher
    13%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Secretary
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Pelter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Pelter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pelter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Pelter

Passenger Lists

There are 428 immigration records available for the last name Pelter. 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 Pelter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 601 military records available for the last name Pelter. For the veterans among your Pelter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pelter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pelter family history

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What is the average Pelter lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Pelter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Pelter in 1959 was 52, and 87 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pelter

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Pelter family tree

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