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Terns Family History

Terns 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: Berns, Ternes, Kerns, Sterns, Ferns, Ternus, Turns, Terry, Teng, Kern

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Terns family from?

You can see how Terns families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Terns family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Terns families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2 Terns families living in Devon. This was 100% of all the recorded Terns's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Terns families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Terns 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 Terns ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Terns. 54% of Terns men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Terns women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Terns were Miner and Waitress.

View Census Data for Terns | 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

  • Laborer
    54%
  • Salesman
    20%
  • Plumber
    14%
  • Miner
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    34%
  • Teacher
    34%
  • Waitress
    34%

What Terns family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Terns

Passenger Lists

There are 49 immigration records available for the last name Terns. 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 Terns immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 944 military records available for the last name Terns. For the veterans among your Terns ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Terns military records

You've only scratched the surface of Terns family history

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What is the average Terns lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2003, in the United States, Terns life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Terns in 1960 was 52, and 88 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Terns

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Terns 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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