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Shorty Family History

Shorty Surname Meaning

Native American (Navajo): translation into English (and shortening) of a personal name based on (or just composed of) a Navajo word meaning ‘little (one) small’ (see Yazzie). Compare Little 4 and Shortman.

Altered form of English Short or Shorter or of some other similar (like-sounding) surname.

The surname of this (or perhaps of different) origin is most common among African Americans; as such it may have originally been a genuine nickname for a short person (and not an altered form of an English surname).

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 Shorty family from?

You can see how Shorty families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shorty family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shorty families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 6 Shorty families living in Manitoba. This was about 43% of all the recorded Shorty's in Canada. Manitoba had the highest population of Shorty families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shorty 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 Shorty ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Weaver were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Shorty. 39% of Shorty men worked as a Farmer and 60% of Shorty women worked as a Weaver. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shorty were Tractor Operator and Housewife.

View Census Data for Shorty | 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
    39%
  • Laborer
    29%
  • Labor
    6%
  • Tractor Operator
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Weaver
    60%
  • Stenographer
    10%
  • Cook
    10%
  • Housewife
    10%

What Shorty family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Shorty

Passenger Lists

There are 93 immigration records available for the last name Shorty. 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 Shorty immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 966 military records available for the last name Shorty. For the veterans among your Shorty ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shorty military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shorty family history

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What is the average Shorty lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Shorty life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1965. The average life expectancy for Shorty in 1945 was 53, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shorty

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

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