This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Arthur family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Arthur Family History

Arthur Surname Meaning

Scottish, Irish, English, German, and French: from the ancient Celtic personal name Arthur. The origin of the name is disputed, but it may be derived from the Latin name Artorius, or it may derive from an old Celtic word meaning ‘bear’ (compare Gaelic art, Welsh arth, both of which mean ‘bear’).

It has been in regular use as a personal name in Britain since the early Middle Ages, owing its popularity in large part to the legendary exploits of King Arthur, which gave rise to a prolific literature in Welsh, French, English, German, and other languages.

In many cases, this is a shortened form of Scottish or Irish McArthur, the patronymic Mac- often being dropped in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries under English influence.

West African (Ghana): Anglicized form of the Akan (Fante) name Atta.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Arthur family from?

You can see how Arthur families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Arthur family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Arthur families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 858 Arthur families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Arthur's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Arthur families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Arthur 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 Arthur ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Arthur. 7% of Arthur men worked as a Farmer and 69% of Arthur women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Arthur were Bricklayer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Arthur | 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

  • Farmer
    7%
  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Arthur family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 303,000 census records available for the last name Arthur. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Arthur census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Arthur

Passenger Lists

There are 48,000 immigration records available for the last name Arthur. 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 Arthur immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 58,000 military records available for the last name Arthur. For the veterans among your Arthur ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Arthur military records

You've only scratched the surface of Arthur family history

Discover More

What is the average Arthur lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Arthur life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Arthur in 1941 was 35, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Arthur

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Arthur 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Arthur family tree

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