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Pointer Family History

Pointer Name Meaning

English (southeastern): occupational name either from Middle English pointere pointour ‘tiler’ (from an unrecorded Middle English pointer an agent derivative of pointe poynte ‘tie lace or cord of twisted yarn silk or leather’ for a maker of points for fastening hose and doublet together) or sometimes perhaps from Middle English pointer ‘painter’. Compare Poynter . In some cases also an American shortened form (or a very rare German variant) of South German (mainly Bavaria) Pointner itself a variant of Paintner .

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


Similar surnames: Painter, Pinter, Porter, Pinner, Panter, Winter, Minter, Potter

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Pointer family from?

You can see how Pointer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pointer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pointer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 301 Pointer families living in Norfolk. This was about 24% of all the recorded Pointer's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Pointer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pointer 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 Pointer 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 Pointer. 11% of Pointer men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Pointer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pointer were Lorry Driver and Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Pointer | 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
    11%
  • Gardener
    10%
  • Builders Labourer
    7%
  • Lorry Driver
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Pointer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 46,000 census records available for the last name Pointer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pointer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pointer

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Pointer. 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 Pointer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Pointer. For the veterans among your Pointer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Pointer lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Pointer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Pointer in 1942 was 37, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pointer

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