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Brittain Family History

Brittain Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Anglo-Norman French Bretagne Bretaign(e) ‘Brittany’. Some of the modern forms are from the Middle English Brytane Brittan ‘Breton’;

compare Breton.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Brittain family from?

You can see how Brittain families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Brittain family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Brittain families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 276 Brittain families living in Yorkshire. This was about 12% of all the recorded Brittain's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Brittain families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Brittain 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 Brittain 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 Brittain. 10% of Brittain men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Brittain women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Brittain were Builders Labourer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Brittain | 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
    10%
  • Bricklayer
    7%
  • Gardener
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Brittain family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 78,000 census records available for the last name Brittain. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Brittain census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Brittain

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Brittain. 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 Brittain immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Brittain. For the veterans among your Brittain ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Brittain military records

You've only scratched the surface of Brittain family history

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What is the average Brittain lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Brittain life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Brittain in 1950 was 48, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Brittain

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Brittain 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 Brittain family tree

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