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Fairhurst Family History

Fairhurst Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): habitational name from a hamlet near Parbold not far from Wigan Lancashire or from Fair Hurst in Bradfield Yorkshire.

So named from Old English fæger ‘beautiful’ + hyrst ‘wooded hill’.

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 Fairhurst family from?

You can see how Fairhurst families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fairhurst family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fairhurst families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 2,298 Fairhurst families living in Lancashire. This was about 78% of all the recorded Fairhurst's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Fairhurst families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fairhurst 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 Fairhurst 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 Fairhurst. 14% of Fairhurst men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Fairhurst women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fairhurst were Builders Labourer and Cotton Weaver.

View Census Data for Fairhurst | 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
    14%
  • Colliery Hewer
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Cotton Weaver
    2%

What Fairhurst family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 35,000 census records available for the last name Fairhurst. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fairhurst census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fairhurst

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Fairhurst. For the veterans among your Fairhurst ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fairhurst military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fairhurst family history

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What is the average Fairhurst lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Fairhurst life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 1964. The average life expectancy for Fairhurst in 1946 was 39, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fairhurst

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fairhurst 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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