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Beste Family History

Beste Name Meaning

English and French: variant spelling of Best. German: topographic name for someone who lived by the Beste river, a tributary of the Trave, or a habitational name from any of various villages called Besten, said by Bahlow to be named with a Middle Low German word for poor soil.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Best, Bester, Besse, Berge, Beese, Nester, West, Belt, Bente, Busse

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 Beste family from?

You can see how Beste families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Beste family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Beste families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there was 1 Beste family living in North Carolina. This was 100% of all the recorded Beste's in USA. North Carolina had the highest population of Beste families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Beste surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Beste ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Beste. 29% of Beste men worked as a Farmer and 22% of Beste women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Beste were Gardiner and Telephone Operator. .

View Census Data for Beste | 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

  • Farmer
    29%
  • Laborer
    11%
  • Salesman
    11%
  • Gardiner
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    22%
  • Housewife
    22%
  • Waitress
    15%
  • Telephone Operator
    15%
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What Beste family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Beste

Passenger Lists

There are 807 immigration records available for the last name Beste. 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 Beste immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Beste. For the veterans among your Beste ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Beste military records

You've only scratched the surface of Beste family history

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What is the average Beste lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Beste life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Beste in 1953 was 21, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Beste

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