This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Torrington family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Torrington Family History

Torrington Surname Meaning

Mainly from Black Great or Little Torrington (Devon) all recorded as Tori(n)tona in 1086. The places take their names from the river Torridge (from a word related to Welsh terig ‘ardent severe harsh’) + Old English tūn ‘farmstead estate’.

In Lincs and E Anglia from East or West Torrington (Lincs) recorded as Terintone in 1086 and Tiringtuna in about 1115 or from Terrington (Norfolk) which is recorded as Tilinghetuna in 1086 and Tirintuna between 1103 and 113.

The place-names probably derive from an Old English personal name *Tīra + Old English connective -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead estate’ though it is possible that the second element in the Norfolk place-name is the Old English group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-).

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Torrington family from?

You can see how Torrington families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Torrington family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Torrington families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 6 Torrington families living in Ontario. This was about 86% of all the recorded Torrington's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Torrington families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Torrington surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Torrington ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Labourer Public Contractor and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Torrington. 67% of Torrington men worked as a Labourer Public Contractor and 90% of Torrington women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Torrington were General Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Torrington | 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.

England shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Labourer Public Contractor
    67%
  • General Labourer
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    90%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    7%
  • Housewife
    4%

What Torrington family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Torrington. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Torrington census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Torrington

Passenger Lists

There are 452 immigration records available for the last name Torrington. 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 Torrington immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 378 military records available for the last name Torrington. For the veterans among your Torrington ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Torrington military records

You've only scratched the surface of Torrington family history

Discover More

What is the average Torrington lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Torrington life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1968, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Torrington in 1962 was 79, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Torrington

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial