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Bretney Family History

Bretney Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Brenner, Brenes, Reaney, Breakey, Betley, Greaney, Breiner, Bremner

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bretney family from?

You can see how Bretney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bretney family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Bretney families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 14 Bretney families living in Ontario. This was about 82% of all the recorded Bretney's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Bretney families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bretney 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 Bretney ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bretney. 100% of Bretney men worked as a General Labourer and 100% of Bretney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Bretney | 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.

England shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Bretney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 784 census records available for the last name Bretney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bretney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bretney

Passenger Lists

There are 155 immigration records available for the last name Bretney. 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 Bretney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 149 military records available for the last name Bretney. For the veterans among your Bretney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bretney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bretney family history

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What is the average Bretney lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Bretney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Bretney in 1964 was 88, and 87 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bretney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bretney 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.

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