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Surtees Family History

Surtees Surname Meaning

English (Durham and Northumberland): habitational name from an unidentified place probably an Anglo-Norman French name for Upper Teesdale composed of the Old French prefix sur (from Latin super) ‘upper’.

The name combines this prefix with the English river name Te(i)se or Tees, which has an uncertain etymology.

Upper Teesdale is located in the region of Durham and Northumberland, known for its natural beauty and historical significance.

The use of a geographic identifier in the name highlights the importance of location in the formation of surnames.

This naming convention reflects the influences of both Anglo-Norman culture and the local landscape in the development of English surnames.

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


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Where is the Surtees family from?

You can see how Surtees families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Surtees family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Surtees families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 526 Surtees families living in Durham. This was about 52% of all the recorded Surtees's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Surtees families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Surtees 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 Surtees 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 Surtees. 18% of Surtees men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Surtees women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Surtees were Colliery Hewer and Unpaid Household Duties.

View Census Data for Surtees | 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
    18%
  • Joiner
    7%
  • Market Gardener
    7%
  • Colliery Hewer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    3%

What Surtees family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Surtees

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Surtees military records

You've only scratched the surface of Surtees family history

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What is the average Surtees lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Surtees life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1995, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Surtees in 1955 was 41, and 91 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Surtees

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Surtees 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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