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Fishman Family History

Fishman Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Fischmann (see Fischman) and a variant of the same Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname.

The surname of Jewish origin is also found in Britain.

English: occupational name for a fisherman or fish merchant.

The surname with this meaning is very rare or perhaps already extinct in Britain.

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 Fishman family from?

You can see how Fishman families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fishman family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fishman families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 16 Fishman families living in London. This was about 57% of all the recorded Fishman's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fishman families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fishman 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 Fishman ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Master Tailor and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fishman. 17% of Fishman men worked as a Master Tailor and 72% of Fishman women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fishman were Handbag Maker and Shorthand Typist.

View Census Data for Fishman | 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

  • Master Tailor
    17%
  • Salesman
    17%
  • Tailors Machinist
    12%
  • Handbag Maker
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Housewife
    9%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Shorthand Typist
    3%

What Fishman family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 27,000 census records available for the last name Fishman. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fishman census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fishman

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Fishman. 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 Fishman immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Fishman military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fishman family history

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What is the average Fishman lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Fishman life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Fishman in 1949 was 54, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fishman

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fishman 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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