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Orrison Family History

Orrison Surname Meaning

Apparently an English patronymic from Orris; however the surname does not occur in current British records.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Orrison family from?

You can see how Orrison families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Orrison family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Orrison families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 4 Orrison families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 40% of all the recorded Orrison's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Orrison families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Orrison 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 Orrison ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Orrison. 22% of Orrison men worked as a Farmer and 20% of Orrison women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Orrison were Machinist and Housewife.

View Census Data for Orrison | 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

  • Farmer
    22%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Salesman
    14%
  • Machinist
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    20%
  • Teacher
    20%
  • Beautician
    20%
  • Housewife
    14%

What Orrison family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Orrison. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Orrison census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Orrison

Passenger Lists

There are 138 immigration records available for the last name Orrison. 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 Orrison immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Orrison. For the veterans among your Orrison ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Orrison military records

You've only scratched the surface of Orrison family history

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What is the average Orrison lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Orrison life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1974. The average life expectancy for Orrison in 1959 was 35, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Orrison

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Orrison 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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