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Small Family History

Small Surname Meaning

English and Scottish (Angus): nickname for a person of slender build or diminutive stature from Middle English smal(e) smel(e) ‘small slender thin’ (Old English smæl).

Irish (Down): adopted for Beag ‘small’; see Begg.

Americanized form (translation into English) of any of various European surnames meaning ‘small’ e.g. German Klein and Schmal Polish Mały Czech and Slovak Malý (see Maly).

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Small family from?

You can see how Small families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Small family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Small families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 906 Small families living in London. This was about 15% of all the recorded Small's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Small families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Small 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 Small 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 Small. 10% of Small men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Small women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Small were Bricklayer and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Small | 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
    10%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Gardener
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%

What Small family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 391,000 census records available for the last name Small. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Small census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Small

Passenger Lists

There are 43,000 immigration records available for the last name Small. 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 Small immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 74,000 military records available for the last name Small. For the veterans among your Small ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Small military records

You've only scratched the surface of Small family history

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What is the average Small lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Small life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Small in 1941 was 35, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Small

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Small 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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