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Gentry Family History

Gentry Surname Meaning

English (Essex and Middlesex): nickname from Middle English Old French genterie ‘nobility of birth or character’. Compare Gentle.

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 Gentry family from?

You can see how Gentry families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gentry family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gentry families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 457 Gentry families living in Essex. This was about 45% of all the recorded Gentry's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Gentry families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry. 8% of Gentry men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Gentry women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gentry were Gardener and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Gentry | 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
    8%
  • Carpenter
    6%
  • Retired
    5%
  • Gardener
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Gentry family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 152,000 census records available for the last name Gentry. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gentry census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gentry

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 37,000 military records available for the last name Gentry. For the veterans among your Gentry ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gentry military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gentry family history

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What is the average Gentry lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Gentry life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Gentry in 1941 was 28, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gentry

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gentry 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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