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Highlander Family History

Highlander Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Heilander probably a topographic name composed of Middle High German höu ‘hay’ + land ‘land’ + the agent suffix -er.

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 Highlander family from?

You can see how Highlander families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Highlander family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Highlander families were found in USA in 1880. In 1841 there was 1 Highlander family living in Lanarkshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Highlander's in Scotland. Lanarkshire had the highest population of Highlander families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Highlander 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 Highlander ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Saleslady were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Highlander. 47% of Highlander men worked as a Laborer and 100% of Highlander women worked as a Saleslady.

View Census Data for Highlander | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    47%
  • Farmer
    35%
  • Truck Driver
    7%
  • Clerk
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Saleslady
    100%

What Highlander family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Highlander. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Highlander census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Highlander

Passenger Lists

There are 62 immigration records available for the last name Highlander. 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 Highlander immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 451 military records available for the last name Highlander. For the veterans among your Highlander ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Highlander military records

You've only scratched the surface of Highlander family history

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What is the average Highlander lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Highlander life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Highlander in 1941 was 30, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Highlander

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Highlander 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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