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Lance Family History

Lance Name Meaning

English: from the ancient Germanic personal name Lanzo originally a short form of various compound names with the first element land ‘land territory’ (for example Lambert ) but later used as an independent name. It was introduced to England by the Normans for whom it was a popular name among the ruling classes perhaps partly because of association with Old French lance ‘lance spear’ (see 2 below). French: metonymic occupational name for a soldier who carried a lance or a nickname for a skilled fighter from Old French lance ‘lance spear’. Americanized form of German Lanz and Lenz .

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


Similar surnames: Lane, Dance, Lande, Hance, Lynch, Lace, Linde, Lake, Lince, Bunce

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Lance family from?

You can see how Lance families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lance family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Lance families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 97 Lance families living in London. This was about 22% of all the recorded Lance's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Lance families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lance 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 Lance 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 Lance. 34% of Lance men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Lance women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Lance were Terazzo Worker Heavy and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Lance | 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
    34%
  • Farm Work
    17%
  • Incapacitated
    17%
  • Terazzo Worker Heavy
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Private Means
    9%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Lance family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 58,000 census records available for the last name Lance. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Lance census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Lance

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Lance. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Lance. For the veterans among your Lance ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Lance lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Lance life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Lance in 1951 was 42, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Lance

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