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Semes Family History

Semes 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: Nemes, Remes, Somes, Simes, Seres, Sames, Symes, Semel, Semer, Sees

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Semes family from?

You can see how Semes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Semes family name was found in the USA between 1840 and 1920. The most Semes families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there was 1 Semes family living in Illinois. This was 100% of all the recorded Semes's in USA. Illinois had the highest population of Semes families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Semes 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 Semes ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Carpenter and Cook were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Semes. 25% of Semes men worked as a Carpenter and 34% of Semes women worked as a Cook. Some less common occupations for Americans named Semes were Truck Driver and Housework.

View Census Data for Semes | 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

  • Carpenter
    25%
  • Janitor
    25%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Truck Driver
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Cook
    34%
  • Teacher
    34%
  • Housework
    34%

What Semes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 530 census records available for the last name Semes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Semes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Semes

Passenger Lists

There are 119 immigration records available for the last name Semes. 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 Semes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 76 military records available for the last name Semes. For the veterans among your Semes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Semes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Semes family history

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What is the average Semes lifespan?

Between 1970 and 2001, in the United States, Semes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1998, and highest in 1984. The average life expectancy for Semes in 1970 was 54, and 82 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Semes

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

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