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Oxford Family History

Oxford Surname Meaning

English (southern and central England): habitational name from the city of Oxford.

The placename derives from Old English oxa ‘ox’ + ford ‘ford’.

Compare Oxenford.

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 Oxford family from?

You can see how Oxford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Oxford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Oxford families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 194 Oxford families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Oxford's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Oxford families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Oxford 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 Oxford 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 Oxford. 20% of Oxford men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Oxford women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Oxford were Carpenter joiner and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Oxford | 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
    20%
  • Incapacitated
    8%
  • Lorry Driver
    5%
  • Carpenter joiner
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

What Oxford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 40,000 census records available for the last name Oxford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Oxford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Oxford

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Oxford. For the veterans among your Oxford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Oxford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Oxford family history

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What is the average Oxford lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Oxford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Oxford in 1947 was 41, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Oxford

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

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