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Tapson Family History

Tapson Surname Meaning

From Topsham (Devon) recorded as Toppesham in 937, Tapsam in 1359, Appisham al. Toppisham in 1588, and Topsham vulg. Apsum in 1675. The unrounding of the vowel is characteristic of Devon dialect.

The development of -sham to -son can be seen in Buckland Monachorum where the surname proliferated in the 16th and 17th centuries. A branch of the family appears to have moved to the London area in the 18th century.

The place-name derives from an Old English personal name *Topp (genitive *Toppes) or Old English topp ‘top top of a hill or bank’ (genitive toppes) + hamm ‘enclosure water meadow’.

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


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Where is the Tapson family from?

You can see how Tapson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tapson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Tapson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 38 Tapson families living in London. This was about 31% of all the recorded Tapson's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Tapson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tapson 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 Tapson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Tapson. 92% of Tapson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Tapson | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    92%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%

What Tapson family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Tapson

Passenger Lists

There are 446 immigration records available for the last name Tapson. 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 Tapson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 280 military records available for the last name Tapson. For the veterans among your Tapson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Tapson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Tapson family history

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What is the average Tapson lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Tapson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Tapson in 1965 was 46, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Tapson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tapson 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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