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

Pelto Family History

Pelto Name Meaning

Finnish: ornamental name from pelto ‘field’ adopted during the 20th century throughout southern and western parts of the country. In a few cases however it is a habitational name from farms so named with reference to their location.

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


Similar surnames: Elo, Pelton, Peto, Beito, Yelton, Helton, Bello, Ponto, Kelton, Salto

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 Pelto family from?

You can see how Pelto families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pelto family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1891 and 1920. The most Pelto families were found in USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 27 Pelto families living in Minnesota. This was about 30% of all the recorded Pelto's in USA. Minnesota had the highest population of Pelto families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pelto surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Pelto ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pelto. 38% of Pelto men worked as a Laborer and 30% of Pelto women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pelto were Machinist and None. .

View Census Data for Pelto | 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
    38%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Miner
    13%
  • Machinist
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    30%
  • Teacher
    25%
  • Seamstress
    13%
  • None
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Pelto family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Pelto. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pelto census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Pelto

Passenger Lists

There are 439 immigration records available for the last name Pelto. 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 Pelto immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 665 military records available for the last name Pelto. For the veterans among your Pelto ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pelto military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pelto family history

Discover More

What is the average Pelto lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Pelto life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Pelto in 1946 was 20, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pelto

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Pelto family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Pelto last name

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