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Heather Family History

Heather Surname Meaning

English: topographic name denoting a ‘dweller on the heath’ an agent derivative of Middle English hethe; compare Heath. The name may also be habitational name from Heather (Leicestershire) from Old English hǣthor ‘heathland’.

This includes hǣth ‘heath heather’ + the noun suffix -or) or hǣddre ‘heather’. This surname is widespread in southern England and also established in Ireland.

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 Heather family from?

You can see how Heather families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Heather family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Heather families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 468 Heather families living in London. This was about 26% of all the recorded Heather's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Heather families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Heather 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 Heather 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 Heather. 11% of Heather men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Heather women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Heather were Plumber and Private Means.

View Census Data for Heather | 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
    11%
  • Gardener
    10%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Plumber
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Heather family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 54,000 census records available for the last name Heather. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Heather census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Heather

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Heather. 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 Heather immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Heather. For the veterans among your Heather ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Heather military records

You've only scratched the surface of Heather family history

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What is the average Heather lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Heather life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1967. The average life expectancy for Heather in 1952 was 23, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Heather

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Heather 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Heather family tree

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