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Bedlow Family History

Bedlow Surname Meaning

The place-name Bledlow is derived from an Old English given name *Bledda combined with the word hlāw, which means ‘mound’. This indicates a geographical or topographical feature associated with the area.

In the case of the surname, there is an interesting phonetic development; it exhibits a dissimilatory loss of the first -l-. This change reflects a common linguistic phenomenon where similar sounds within a word tend to be modified to avoid repetition.

The point of origin suggests that historical context plays an essential role in place-naming conventions, often linking individuals to specific locations based on personal or geographical identifiers.

Understanding the etymology of names like Bledlow provides insight into the cultural and historical influences that have shaped the language and nomenclature of a region.

Overall, the evolution of the name illustrates the intricate relationship between language, geography, and identity throughout history.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Bedlow family from?

You can see how Bedlow families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bedlow family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bedlow families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 15 Bedlow families living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Bedlow's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Bedlow families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bedlow 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 Bedlow ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Librarian were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bedlow. 40% of Bedlow men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Bedlow women worked as a Librarian. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bedlow were Helper and Press Operator.

View Census Data for Bedlow | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    40%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Chauffeur
    20%
  • Helper
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Librarian
    50%
  • Press Operator
    50%

What Bedlow family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Bedlow. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bedlow census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bedlow

Passenger Lists

There are 185 immigration records available for the last name Bedlow. 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 Bedlow immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 272 military records available for the last name Bedlow. For the veterans among your Bedlow ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bedlow military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bedlow family history

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What is the average Bedlow lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Bedlow life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1970, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Bedlow in 1962 was 68, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bedlow

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bedlow ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bedlow family tree

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