This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Ponsonby family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Ponsonby Family History

Ponsonby Surname Meaning

from Ponsonby (Cumb) which is recorded as Puncunesbi in about 1160 and Punzunby in about 1170.

The place-name derives from the Old French personal name Puncun + Old Scandinavian bȳ ‘farmstead village’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ponsonby family from?

You can see how Ponsonby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ponsonby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ponsonby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 2 Ponsonby families living in Saskatchewan. This was about 50% of all the recorded Ponsonby's in Canada. Saskatchewan had the highest population of Ponsonby families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ponsonby surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Ponsonby ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Typist were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ponsonby. 38% of Ponsonby men worked as a Laborer and 60% of Ponsonby women worked as a Typist. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ponsonby were Linotype Operator and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Ponsonby | 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
    38%
  • Salesman
    38%
  • Linotype Operator
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Typist
    60%
  • Stenographer
    40%

What Ponsonby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Ponsonby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ponsonby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Ponsonby

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 879 military records available for the last name Ponsonby. For the veterans among your Ponsonby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ponsonby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ponsonby family history

Discover More

What is the average Ponsonby lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Ponsonby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Ponsonby in 1942 was 43, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ponsonby

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

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