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Theresa Family History

Theresa 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: Teresi, Thress, Ceresa, Thewes, Herbst, Hees, Hermes, Torres, Terres

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Theresa family from?

You can see how Theresa families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Theresa family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Theresa families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 25 Theresa families living in Quebec. This was about 52% of all the recorded Theresa's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Theresa families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Theresa 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 Theresa ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farm Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Theresa. 24% of Theresa men worked as a Farm Laborer and 25% of Theresa women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Theresa were Clerk and Saleslady.

View Census Data for Theresa | 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

  • Farm Laborer
    24%
  • Mechanic
    16%
  • Salesman
    16%
  • Clerk
    16%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    25%
  • Housewife
    14%
  • Housework
    11%
  • Saleslady
    11%

What Theresa family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Theresa. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Theresa census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Theresa

Passenger Lists

There are 800 immigration records available for the last name Theresa. 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 Theresa immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 184 military records available for the last name Theresa. For the veterans among your Theresa ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Theresa military records

You've only scratched the surface of Theresa family history

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What is the average Theresa lifespan?

Between 1967 and 2001, in the United States, Theresa life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Theresa in 1967 was 82, and 77 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Theresa

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Theresa 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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