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Wernham Family History

Wernham Surname Meaning

From Warnham (Sussex) which is recorded as Werneham in 1166 and Wornham in 132. The place-name derives from an Old English personal name *Wǣrna or Old English *wǣrna ‘stallion’.

Additionally, it combines with hām meaning ‘village homestead’ or hamm which refers to ‘enclosure water meadow’.

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


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Where is the Wernham family from?

You can see how Wernham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wernham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wernham families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 91 Wernham families living in Berkshire. This was about 44% of all the recorded Wernham's in United Kingdom. Berkshire had the highest population of Wernham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wernham 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 Wernham ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wernham. 27% of Wernham men worked as a Gardener and 82% of Wernham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wernham were Wood Machinist and Housewife.

View Census Data for Wernham | 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

  • Gardener
    27%
  • Dock Labourer
    20%
  • Bricklayer Heavy Works
    14%
  • Wood Machinist
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    82%
  • Dressmaker
    5%
  • Paid Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Wernham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Wernham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wernham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wernham

Passenger Lists

There are 561 immigration records available for the last name Wernham. 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 Wernham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 361 military records available for the last name Wernham. For the veterans among your Wernham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wernham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wernham family history

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What is the average Wernham lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2003, in the United States, Wernham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1974. The average life expectancy for Wernham in 1961 was 36, and 88 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wernham

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wernham 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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