This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Major family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Major Family History

Major Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): from the personal name Malg(i)er Maug(i)er an Old French form of ancient Germanic Madalgar(i) (see Mauger).

Hungarian: from a shortened form of majorosgazda (see Majoros) or a derivative of German Meyer.

Polish, Czech, and Slovak: from the military rank major (derived from Latin maior ‘greater’) a word related to English mayor and the German surname Meyer.

Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): from a variant of the personal name Meyer (see Meyer).

French (Occitan): from major ‘major’ (from Latin maior ‘greater’) denoting a prominent or important person such as a mayor or the first-born son of a family. French Canadian: from major ‘major’ used as a soldier's name (originally in the form Le Major). Americanized form of French and Channel Islands (Guernsey and Jersey) Mauger a cognate of 1 above.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Major family from?

You can see how Major families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Major family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Major families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 605 Major families living in London. This was about 17% of all the recorded Major's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Major families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Major surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Major 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 Major. 7% of Major men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Major women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Major were Bricklayer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Major | 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
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Farmer
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Major family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 182,000 census records available for the last name Major. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Major census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Major

Passenger Lists

There are 19,000 immigration records available for the last name Major. 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 Major immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 187,000 military records available for the last name Major. For the veterans among your Major ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Major military records

You've only scratched the surface of Major family history

Discover More

What is the average Major lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Major life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Major in 1941 was 35, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Major

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial