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Jenks Family History

Jenks Surname Meaning

English (West Midlands): from the Middle English personal name Jenke (a shortening of the personal name Jenkin Jankin; see Jenkin)

with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s.

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 Jenks family from?

You can see how Jenks families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Jenks family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Jenks families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 235 Jenks families living in Staffordshire. This was about 22% of all the recorded Jenks's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Jenks families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Jenks 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 Jenks 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 Jenks. 18% of Jenks men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Jenks women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Jenks were Builders Labourer Heavy Worker and Housewife.

View Census Data for Jenks | 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
    18%
  • Farmer
    8%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Builders Labourer Heavy Worker
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Jenks family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 67,000 census records available for the last name Jenks. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Jenks census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Jenks

Passenger Lists

There are 31,000 immigration records available for the last name Jenks. 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 Jenks immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Jenks. For the veterans among your Jenks ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Jenks military records

You've only scratched the surface of Jenks family history

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What is the average Jenks lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Jenks life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Jenks in 1944 was 49, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Jenks

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Jenks 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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