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Besby Family History

Besby Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Busby, Beeby, Nesby, Bisby, Wesby, Berry, Best, Westby, Mosby, Espy

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Besby family from?

You can see how Besby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Besby family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Besby families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Besby family living in Gloucestershire. This was 100% of all the recorded Besby's in United Kingdom. Gloucestershire had the highest population of Besby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Besby 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 Besby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 252 census records available for the last name Besby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Besby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Besby

Passenger Lists

There are 20 immigration records available for the last name Besby. 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 Besby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19 military records available for the last name Besby. For the veterans among your Besby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Besby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Besby family history

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What is the average Besby lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Besby 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.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Besby

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