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Stearns Family History

Stearns Surname Meaning

English: variant of Stearn with post-medieval excrescent -s (see Stern).

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 Stearns family from?

You can see how Stearns families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Stearns family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Stearns families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 42 Stearns families living in London. This was about 23% of all the recorded Stearns's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Stearns families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Stearns 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 Stearns 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 Stearns. 56% of Stearns men worked as a General Labourer and 80% of Stearns women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Stearns were Boot Maker and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Stearns | 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
    56%
  • Incapacitated
    23%
  • Boot Maker
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Private Means
    13%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%

What Stearns family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 83,000 census records available for the last name Stearns. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Stearns census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Stearns

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Stearns. 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 Stearns immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Stearns. For the veterans among your Stearns ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Stearns military records

You've only scratched the surface of Stearns family history

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What is the average Stearns lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Stearns life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Stearns in 1940 was 36, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Stearns

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Stearns 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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