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Earnshaw Family History

Earnshaw Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire and Lancashire): habitational name from Earnshaw in Bradfield Yorkshire.

The placename means ‘eagle wood’ from Old English earn ‘eagle’ + sceaga ‘small wood copse’.

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 Earnshaw family from?

You can see how Earnshaw families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Earnshaw family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Earnshaw families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 2,391 Earnshaw families living in Yorkshire. This was about 60% of all the recorded Earnshaw's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Earnshaw families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Earnshaw 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 Earnshaw 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 Earnshaw. 7% of Earnshaw men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Earnshaw women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Earnshaw were Joiner and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Earnshaw | 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
    7%
  • Cotton Weaver
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Joiner
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Earnshaw family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 82,000 census records available for the last name Earnshaw. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Earnshaw census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Earnshaw

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Earnshaw. 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 Earnshaw immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Earnshaw. For the veterans among your Earnshaw ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Earnshaw military records

You've only scratched the surface of Earnshaw family history

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What is the average Earnshaw lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Earnshaw life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Earnshaw in 1951 was 43, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Earnshaw

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Earnshaw 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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