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

Seaman Family History

Seaman Name Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Seman Semon (Old English Sǣmann composed of the elements ‘sea’ + mann ‘man’). The surname may have become confused with variants of Simon . English: occasionally perhaps an occupational name for a sailor from Middle English seman ‘sailor’ (Old English sǣmann) but the most common source of the name is Americanized form of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Seemann . Americanized form of Rusyn Seman .

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


Similar surnames: Selman, Leaman, Seeman, Kelman, Derman, German, Edman, Seman, Perman

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 Seaman family from?

You can see how Seaman families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Seaman family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Seaman families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 72 Seaman families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 25% of all the recorded Seaman's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Seaman families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Seaman surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Seaman ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Farmer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Seaman. 63% of Seaman men worked as a Farmer and 29% of Seaman women worked as a Farmer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Seaman were Teacher and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Seaman | 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 1921

  • Farmer
    63%
  • Labourer
    8%
  • Carpenter
    6%
  • Teacher
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    29%
  • Income
    18%
  • Stenographer
    11%
  • Housekeeper
    11%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Seaman family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 149,000 census records available for the last name Seaman. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Seaman census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Seaman

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Seaman. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Seaman immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 29,000 military records available for the last name Seaman. For the veterans among your Seaman ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Seaman military records

You've only scratched the surface of Seaman family history

Discover More

What is the average Seaman lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Seaman life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Seaman in 1943 was 28, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Seaman

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Seaman family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Seaman last name

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