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Whiffen Family History

Whiffen Name Meaning

English: variant of Wiffen which is unexplained. It is certain that this name originally had initial W- rather than Wh- (e.g. William Wyffyng 1318 Thomas Wyffyn 1377) which would rule out a habitational or topographic explanation from a place called with Middle English whit ‘white’ + fen ‘fen marsh’. Wiffen might alternatively be a nickname from Middle English wif-thing ‘sexual intercourse wedding’ which is supported by the -ng in earliest spellings.

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


Similar surnames: Whiston, Whitley, White, Hidden, Whitner, Whitman, Whicker, Whilden

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Whiffen family from?

You can see how Whiffen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Whiffen family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Whiffen families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 265 Whiffen families living in London. This was about 34% of all the recorded Whiffen's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Whiffen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Whiffen 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 Whiffen 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 Whiffen. 20% of Whiffen men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Whiffen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Whiffen were Dairy Farmer and Unpaid Domestic. .

View Census Data for Whiffen | 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
    20%
  • Gardener
    15%
  • Horseman On Farm
    9%
  • Dairy Farmer
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
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What Whiffen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Whiffen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Whiffen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Whiffen

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Whiffen. 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 Whiffen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 844 military records available for the last name Whiffen. For the veterans among your Whiffen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Whiffen military records

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What is the average Whiffen lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Whiffen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Whiffen in 1960 was 59, and 89 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Whiffen

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