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Tilston Family History

Tilston Surname Meaning

From Tilston (Cheshire) which is recorded as Tilestan in 1217–72 or Tilston Fearnall (Cheshire) which is recorded as Tidulstane in 1086 and Tideluestan in 1150. Tilston derives from the Old English personal name Tilli or Tila Tilla + Old English stān ‘stone’.

Tilston Fearnall derives from the Old English personal name Tīdwulf + Old English stān. In the surname, the -t- was sometimes absorbed into the preceding -s- becoming Tilson.

Variant of Tilson with intrusive -t-.

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


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Where is the Tilston family from?

You can see how Tilston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tilston family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Tilston families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 93 Tilston families living in Lancashire. This was about 35% of all the recorded Tilston's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Tilston families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tilston 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 Tilston 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 Tilston. 36% of Tilston men worked as a General Labourer and 80% of Tilston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Tilston were Chief Electrical Engineer and Unpaid Domestic Dutie.

View Census Data for Tilston | 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
    36%
  • Upholsterer
    8%
  • Chauffeur Gardener
    8%
  • Chief Electrical Engineer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • House Duties
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dutie
    2%

What Tilston family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Tilston

Passenger Lists

There are 880 immigration records available for the last name Tilston. 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 Tilston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 448 military records available for the last name Tilston. For the veterans among your Tilston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Tilston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Tilston family history

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What is the average Tilston lifespan?

Between 1956 and 1999, in the United States, Tilston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1987, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Tilston in 1956 was 76, and 88 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Tilston

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tilston 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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