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Lightner Family History

Lightner Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Leitner or Lichtner.

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 Lightner family from?

You can see how Lightner families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lightner family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Lightner families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2 Lightner families living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Lightner's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Lightner families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lightner 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 Lightner ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Lightner. 19% of Lightner men worked as a Laborer and 10% of Lightner women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Lightner were Truck Driver and Housework.

View Census Data for Lightner | 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
    19%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    10%
  • Housekeeper
    9%
  • Maid
    8%
  • Housework
    8%

What Lightner family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Lightner. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Lightner census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Lightner

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Lightner. 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 Lightner immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Lightner. For the veterans among your Lightner ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Lightner military records

You've only scratched the surface of Lightner family history

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What is the average Lightner lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Lightner life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Lightner in 1942 was 51, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Lightner

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Lightner 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 Lightner family tree

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