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Names Family History

Names 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: James, Ames, Naves, Nemes, Eames, Hames, Sames, Namey, Games, Dames

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Names family from?

You can see how Names families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Names family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Names families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 9 Names families living in Ontario. This was about 82% of all the recorded Names's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Names families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Names 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 Names ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Waitress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Names. 55% of Names men worked as a Laborer and 100% of Names women worked as a Waitress.

View Census Data for Names | 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
    55%
  • Salesman
    13%
  • Clerk
    9%
  • Cashier
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Waitress
    100%

What Names family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 25,000 census records available for the last name Names. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Names census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Names

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Names. 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 Names immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Names. For the veterans among your Names ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Names military records

You've only scratched the surface of Names family history

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What is the average Names lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Names life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Names in 1962 was 87, and 61 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Names

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Names 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 Names family tree

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