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Wisden Family History

Wisden Surname Meaning

from West Dean near Singleton (Sussex) ‘west valley’ (Old English west + Old English denu Middle English dene den(n) dane). There is an identically named Westdean near Eastbourne (Sussex) recorded as Wesden in 1189 (1335) West(e)den(e) in 1288 1291 and 1389 but there is no evidence of a surname derived from it.

From the 17th century the surname seems to have developed to Wisden but some examples of Wisden listed below could alternatively belong at (2). Perhaps a spelling variant of Wisdon itself a variant of Wisdom.

This name and that in (1) both occur in Sussex sometimes in the same or neighbouring parishes and were probably confused.

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


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Where is the Wisden family from?

You can see how Wisden families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wisden family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Wisden families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 2 Wisden families living in New Brunswick. This was 100% of all the recorded Wisden's in Canada. New Brunswick had the highest population of Wisden families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wisden 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 Wisden ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, House Painter and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wisden. 100% of Wisden men worked as a House Painter and 94% of Wisden women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Wisden | 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

  • House Painter
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    94%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    7%

What Wisden family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Wisden

Passenger Lists

There are 141 immigration records available for the last name Wisden. 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 Wisden immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 254 military records available for the last name Wisden. For the veterans among your Wisden ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Wisden lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2001, in the United States, Wisden life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Wisden in 1965 was 63, and 91 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wisden

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wisden 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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