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

Wardlaw Family History

Wardlaw Name Meaning

Scottish: probably a habitational name from Wardlaw in Kirkhill Inverness which is recorded as Wardelaue in 1202 or perhaps Wardlaw in Ayrs. However the possibility that the Scottish family is related to the Wardlow family of Wardlow (Derbys) cannot be ruled out. The placenames derive from Old English weard ‘watch’ + hlāw ‘mound hill’.

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


Similar surnames: Wardlow, Wardle, Barlow, Wadlow, Harlow, Farlow, Barclay, Eardley

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 Wardlaw family from?

You can see how Wardlaw families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wardlaw family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wardlaw families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 21 Wardlaw families living in Ontario. This was about 88% of all the recorded Wardlaw's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Wardlaw families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wardlaw surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Wardlaw ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Wardlaw. 69% of Wardlaw men worked as a Farmer and 60% of Wardlaw women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wardlaw were Machinist and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Wardlaw | 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
    69%
  • Manufacturer Agent
    11%
  • Labourer
    11%
  • Machinist
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Housekeeper
    60%
  • Stenographer
    40%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Wardlaw family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 21,000 census records available for the last name Wardlaw. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wardlaw census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Wardlaw

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Wardlaw. 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 Wardlaw immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Wardlaw. For the veterans among your Wardlaw ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wardlaw military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wardlaw family history

Discover More

What is the average Wardlaw lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Wardlaw life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Wardlaw in 1952 was 44, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wardlaw

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Wardlaw family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Wardlaw last name

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