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Sojourner Family History

Sojourner Surname Meaning

Altered form of English Surgenor ‘surgeon’.

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 Sojourner family from?

You can see how Sojourner families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sojourner family name was found in the USA between 1840 and 1920. The most Sojourner families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 3 Sojourner families living in Mississippi. This was about 75% of all the recorded Sojourner's in USA. Mississippi had the highest population of Sojourner families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sojourner 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 Sojourner ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Sojourner. 43% of Sojourner men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Sojourner women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sojourner were Merchant and Seamstress.

View Census Data for Sojourner | 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
    43%
  • Laborer
    40%
  • Inspector
    11%
  • Merchant
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    34%
  • Stenographer
    34%
  • Seamstress
    34%

What Sojourner family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Sojourner

Passenger Lists

There are 58 immigration records available for the last name Sojourner. 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 Sojourner immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 468 military records available for the last name Sojourner. For the veterans among your Sojourner ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sojourner military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sojourner family history

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What is the average Sojourner lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Sojourner life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1989, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Sojourner in 1952 was 60, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sojourner

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sojourner 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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