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Elston Family History

Elston Name Meaning

English:: habitational name from any of several places called Elston (in Nottinghamshire Lancashire and Wiltshire). Elston in Lancashire comes from the Old English female personal name Æthelsige (composed of the elements athel ‘noble’ + sige ‘victory’) + Old English tūn ‘settlement’. Elston in Nottinghamshire is named with the Old Norse personal name Eiláfr (meaning ‘everlasting’) + tūn ‘settlement’ and Elston in Wiltshire is so named from Elias Giffard holder of the manor in the 12th century. from the Middle English personal name Elstan (Old English Ealdstān ‘old’ + ‘stone’ or Ealhstān ‘shrine temple’ + ‘stone’). Compare Alston .

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


Similar surnames: Easton, Elton, Elson, Alston, Gelston, Colston, Rolston, Ruston

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 Elston family from?

You can see how Elston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Elston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Elston families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 19 Elston families living in New York. This was about 18% of all the recorded Elston's in USA. New York had the highest population of Elston families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Elston 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 Elston ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Elston. 20% of Elston men worked as a Laborer and 11% of Elston women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Elston were Salesman and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Elston | 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
    20%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Truck Driver
    4%
  • Salesman
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    11%
  • Housewife
    9%
  • Housework
    8%
  • Housekeeper
    8%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Elston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 55,000 census records available for the last name Elston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Elston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Elston

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Elston. 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 Elston immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Elston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Elston family history

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What is the average Elston lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Elston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Elston in 1945 was 29, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Elston

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