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Orpwood Family History

Orpwood Surname Meaning

The name is an altered form of Orpet, which was previously known as Orpede and Orpud. In this evolution, the final syllable has been re-interpreted through folk etymology as a weakly stressed pronunciation of -wood. Historical instances include Rchd Orpud from 1608 and Dattin Orpwood from 1737, as recorded in the IGI from Bampton, Oxon.

Further examples can be found in the IGI records from Holborn, Middx, where Morris Orpitt appeared in 1623, and Thomas Orpwood was documented in 1730. In Stepney, Middx, John Orpitt was noted in 1644, alongside Mary Orpwood in 1799 and James Orpood in 1805.

In addition, the final syllable of the name was sometimes re-interpreted as a weak pronunciation of -head or -hood. For instance, Thomas Orpiet was recorded in 1684, while Edward Orphed and Edward Orphod appeared in 1718, followed by Elizabeth Orpwood in 1816, in IGI records from Abingdon, Berks.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Orpwood family from?

You can see how Orpwood families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Orpwood family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Orpwood families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 57 Orpwood families living in London. This was about 40% of all the recorded Orpwood's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Orpwood families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Orpwood 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 Orpwood ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Roadman and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Orpwood. 13% of Orpwood men worked as a Roadman and 79% of Orpwood women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Orpwood were Plumber and Florist Heavy Worke.

View Census Data for Orpwood | 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

  • Roadman
    13%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    13%
  • Railway Clerk
    13%
  • Plumber
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    4%
  • Florist Heavy Worke
    4%

What Orpwood family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Orpwood. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Orpwood census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Orpwood

Passenger Lists

There are 305 immigration records available for the last name Orpwood. 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 Orpwood immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 273 military records available for the last name Orpwood. For the veterans among your Orpwood ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Orpwood military records

You've only scratched the surface of Orpwood family history

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What is the average Orpwood lifespan?

Between 1973 and 1994, in the United States, Orpwood life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Orpwood in 1973 was 90, and 80 in 1994.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Orpwood

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Orpwood 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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