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Samways Family History

Samways Surname Meaning

English (Dorset): nickname from Middle English sam-wis(e) ‘dull foolish’ (Old English sāmwīs).

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Samways family from?

You can see how Samways families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Samways family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Samways families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 512 Samways families living in Dorset. This was about 52% of all the recorded Samways's in United Kingdom. Dorset had the highest population of Samways families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Samways 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 Samways ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Samways. 11% of Samways men worked as a Builders Labourer and 67% of Samways women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Samways were Farm Labourer and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Samways | 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

  • Builders Labourer
    11%
  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Cowman
    7%
  • Farm Labourer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%

What Samways family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Samways. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Samways census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Samways

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Samways. 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 Samways immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Samways. For the veterans among your Samways ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Samways military records

You've only scratched the surface of Samways family history

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What is the average Samways lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Samways life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Samways in 1951 was 58, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Samways

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Samways 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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