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Orriss Family History

Orriss Surname Meaning

Probably in most instances a variant of Orridge with sibilation of the final palatal consonant to /ʃ/ and /s/ to give (H)orrish and (H)orris. It was sometimes associated with the personal name Horace in modern times by folk etymology.

Some of the following bearers could alternatively belong with (2). Occasionally perhaps from the Middle English personal name Orace (Latin Horatius possibly of Etruscan origin) but it was exceptionally rare in medieval England and is unlikely to be the main source of the surname.

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


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Where is the Orriss family from?

You can see how Orriss families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Orriss family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1891 and 1920. The most Orriss families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 127 Orriss families living in Suffolk. This was about 51% of all the recorded Orriss's in United Kingdom. Suffolk had the highest population of Orriss families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Orriss 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 Orriss ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farm Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Orriss. 25% of Orriss men worked as a Farm Labourer and 81% of Orriss women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Orriss were Gardener and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Orriss | 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

  • Farm Labourer
    25%
  • Builders Labourer
    13%
  • Horseman On Farm
    13%
  • Gardener
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    6%
  • Unpaid Dom
    3%
  • Household Duties
    3%

What Orriss family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Orriss. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Orriss census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Orriss

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Orriss. 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 Orriss immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 324 military records available for the last name Orriss. For the veterans among your Orriss ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Orriss military records

You've only scratched the surface of Orriss family history

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What is the average Orriss lifespan?

Between 1972 and 2003, in the United States, Orriss life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1975. The average life expectancy for Orriss in 1972 was 71, and 83 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Orriss

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Orriss 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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