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Tern Family History

Tern Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Kern, Stern, Tenn, Dern, Bern, Fern, Terp, Zern, Teran, Wern

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Tern family from?

You can see how Tern families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tern family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Tern families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 4 Tern families living in Lancashire. This was 100% of all the recorded Tern's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Tern families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tern 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 Tern ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Waitress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Tern. 60% of Tern men worked as a Salesman and 50% of Tern women worked as a Waitress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Tern were Manager and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Tern | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Salesman
    60%
  • Manager
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Waitress
    50%
  • Stenographer
    50%

What Tern family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Tern. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Tern census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Tern

Passenger Lists

There are 303 immigration records available for the last name Tern. 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 Tern immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Tern. For the veterans among your Tern ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Tern military records

You've only scratched the surface of Tern family history

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What is the average Tern lifespan?

Between 1971 and 1999, in the United States, Tern life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1996, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Tern in 1971 was 76, and 93 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Tern

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tern 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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