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Bruce Family History

Bruce Surname Meaning

Scottish (of Norman origin): habitational name from a place in Normandy probably from Brix (La Manche). Altered form of French Brousse.

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 Bruce family from?

You can see how Bruce families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bruce family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bruce families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 1,185 Bruce families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Bruce's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Bruce families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bruce 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 Bruce 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 Bruce. 9% of Bruce men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Bruce women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bruce were Incapacitated and Housewife.

View Census Data for Bruce | 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
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Bruce family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 526,000 census records available for the last name Bruce. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bruce census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bruce

Passenger Lists

There are 65,000 immigration records available for the last name Bruce. 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 Bruce immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 80,000 military records available for the last name Bruce. For the veterans among your Bruce ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bruce military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bruce family history

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What is the average Bruce lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Bruce life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Bruce in 1941 was 28, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bruce

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bruce 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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