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Pontiff Family History

Pontiff Surname Meaning

Americanized form (translation into English) of French Pontif: from Old French pontif ‘pontiff’ an ironic nickname for a vain or pompous person.

The surname Pontif is rare in France (it is found in Seine-Maritime).

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 Pontiff family from?

You can see how Pontiff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pontiff family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Pontiff families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Pontiff families living in Louisiana. This was 100% of all the recorded Pontiff's in USA. Louisiana had the highest population of Pontiff families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pontiff surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Pontiff ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pontiff. 43% of Pontiff men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Pontiff women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pontiff were Crop Farmer and Checker.

View Census Data for Pontiff | 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
    43%
  • Carpenter
    14%
  • Farmer
    7%
  • Crop Farmer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    34%
  • Servant
    23%
  • Housekeeper
    23%
  • Checker
    23%

What Pontiff family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Pontiff

Passenger Lists

There are 69 immigration records available for the last name Pontiff. 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 Pontiff immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Pontiff military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pontiff family history

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What is the average Pontiff lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Pontiff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Pontiff in 1960 was 24, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pontiff

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

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