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Wemyss Family History

Wemyss Surname Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from Wemyss in Fife traditionally pronounced ‘weems’. The placename is from Gaelic uaimh ‘cave’ + the placename forming suffix –es.

The surname reached Ireland in the 14th century.

See Wims.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Wemyss family from?

You can see how Wemyss families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wemyss family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wemyss families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 25 Wemyss families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Wemyss's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Wemyss families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wemyss 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 Wemyss ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wemyss. 25% of Wemyss men worked as a Bricklayer and 71% of Wemyss women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wemyss were Shipwright and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Wemyss | 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

  • Bricklayer
    25%
  • Retired
    25%
  • Motor Driver
    25%
  • Shipwright
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Housekeeper
    8%
  • Private Means
    8%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%

What Wemyss family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Wemyss. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wemyss census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wemyss

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Wemyss military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wemyss family history

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What is the average Wemyss lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Wemyss life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1996, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Wemyss in 1957 was 78, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wemyss

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wemyss 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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