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Sargent Family History

Sargent Name Meaning

English: status or occupational name from Middle English sergeaunt ‘servant’ (Old French sergent serjant). The surname probably originated for the most part in this sense but the word also developed a number of more specialized meanings in the medieval period including ‘tenant by military service below the rank of knight’. It was also used for a variety of administrative and legal offices which may have contributed to the development of the surname. The sense ‘non-commissioned officer’ did not arise until the 16th century. Compare Sergent .

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


Similar surnames: Largent, Argent, Sergent, Carden, Harben, Parent, Garnett, Marien

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Where is the Sargent family from?

You can see how Sargent families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sargent family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sargent families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 264 Sargent families living in Ontario. This was about 46% of all the recorded Sargent's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Sargent families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sargent surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Sargent ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Sargent. 35% of Sargent men worked as a Farmer and 18% of Sargent women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sargent were Carpenter and Student. .

View Census Data for Sargent | 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
    35%
  • Labourer
    21%
  • Laborer
    12%
  • Carpenter
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Housekeeper
    18%
  • Servant
    11%
  • Clerk
    11%
  • Student
    11%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Sargent family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 232,000 census records available for the last name Sargent. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sargent census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Sargent

Passenger Lists

There are 33,000 immigration records available for the last name Sargent. 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 Sargent immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 36,000 military records available for the last name Sargent. For the veterans among your Sargent ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Sargent lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Sargent life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Sargent in 1942 was 43, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sargent

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