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Relton Family History

Relton Surname Meaning

Perhaps from Wrelton (NR Yorks), which is recorded as Wereltun in 1086 and Wrelton in 128. The origin of the place-name is uncertain, but it may derive from Old English wearg ‘felon’ + hyll ‘hill’ + tūn ‘farmstead, estate’.

There is a significant gap in the record between the medieval surname evidence and the modern.

Relton and Wrelton in 17th-century Yorks and Northumbria could instead be variants of the unexplained Railton, influenced by the NR Yorks place-name.

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


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Where is the Relton family from?

You can see how Relton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Relton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Relton families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 66 Relton families living in Yorkshire. This was about 36% of all the recorded Relton's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Relton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Relton 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 Relton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Relton. 34% of Relton men worked as an Incapacitated and 89% of Relton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Relton were Stockbroker (retired) and Private Means.

View Census Data for Relton | 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

  • Incapacitated
    34%
  • Wine Merchant
    23%
  • Insurance Agent
    23%
  • Stockbroker (retired)
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    89%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Social Worker
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Relton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Relton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Relton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Relton

Passenger Lists

There are 660 immigration records available for the last name Relton. 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 Relton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 227 military records available for the last name Relton. For the veterans among your Relton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Relton family history

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What is the average Relton lifespan?

Between 1969 and 2000, in the United States, Relton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 1979. The average life expectancy for Relton in 1969 was 79, and 78 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Relton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Relton 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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