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

Webster Family History

Webster Name Meaning

English and Scottish: occupational name for a weaver from Middle English webbester ‘weaver’ (Old English webbestre ‘female weaver’). By the time of surname formation the gender distinction of the -stre suffix had almost completely disappeared. Compare Webb Webber and Weaver .

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


Similar surnames: Webber, Weber, Gerster, Leister, Weisser, Jester, Fenster, Pester

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 Webster family from?

You can see how Webster families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Webster family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Webster families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 360 Webster families living in New York. This was about 20% of all the recorded Webster's in USA. New York had the highest population of Webster families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Webster surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Webster ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Webster. 15% of Webster men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Webster women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Webster were Truck Driver and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Webster | 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%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    7%
  • Maid
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Teacher
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Webster family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 900,000 census records available for the last name Webster. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Webster census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Webster

Passenger Lists

There are 186,000 immigration records available for the last name Webster. 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 Webster immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 109,000 military records available for the last name Webster. For the veterans among your Webster ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Webster military records

You've only scratched the surface of Webster family history

Discover More

What is the average Webster lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Webster life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Webster in 1940 was 47, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Webster

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Webster family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Webster last name

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