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Bonham Family History

Bonham Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): nickname from Old French bon homme ‘good man’ (from Latin bonus homo) or from a Middle English personal name of the same etymology.

Possibly also a habitational name from Bonham in Stourton (Wiltshire) which is likely manorial in origin.

This name takes its name from that of an early owner with the same name as in the first paragraph.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bonham family from?

You can see how Bonham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bonham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bonham families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 186 Bonham families living in Northamptonshire. This was about 23% of all the recorded Bonham's in United Kingdom. Northamptonshire had the highest population of Bonham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bonham 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 Bonham 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 Bonham. 19% of Bonham men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Bonham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bonham were Farmer and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Bonham | 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
    19%
  • Bricklayer
    14%
  • Lorry Driver
    11%
  • Farmer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    3%

What Bonham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 49,000 census records available for the last name Bonham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bonham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bonham

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Bonham. 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 Bonham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Bonham. For the veterans among your Bonham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bonham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bonham family history

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What is the average Bonham lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Bonham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1952. The average life expectancy for Bonham in 1949 was 38, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bonham

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bonham 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.

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