History of your Surname
Get access to Hampshire family records.Start a free trial

Hampshire Family History

Hampshire Name Meaning

English:: (Yorkshire): habitational name from the southern English county so called which derives its name from Hampton (i.e. the port of Southampton) + Old English scīr ‘division district’. The County was formerly called Southamptonshire. (Surrey and Kent): habitational name from the area of Hallamshire in southern Yorkshire named from Hallam + Middle English schir ‘division’ ‘administrative region’ (Old English scīr). The surname is most common in Yorkshire where this second derivation is most likely to be the source.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hartshorn, Shire, Yamashiro, Darbyshire

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Hampshire family from?

You can see how Hampshire families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hampshire family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hampshire families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 980 Hampshire families living in Yorkshire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Hampshire's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Hampshire families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hampshire 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 Hampshire ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Hampshire. 14% of Hampshire men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Hampshire women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hampshire were Incapacitated and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Hampshire | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    14%
  • Bricklayer
    7%
  • Gardener
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Hampshire family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 52,000 census records available for the last name Hampshire. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hampshire census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Hampshire

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Hampshire. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Hampshire immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 13,000 military records available for the last name Hampshire. For the veterans among your Hampshire ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hampshire military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hampshire family history

Discover More

What is the average Hampshire lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Hampshire life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Hampshire in 1952 was 29, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hampshire

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Hampshire family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Hampshire last name

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