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Wharfe Family History

Wharfe Surname Meaning

From Wharfe in Austwick (WR Yorks) which is recorded as Warf in 122, the place-name derives from Old Scandinavian hvarf or hverfi ‘bend nook corner’. Occasionally from Middle English w(h)arf ‘wharf quay landing-place’ as the 1320 example shows; it probably denoted someone who worked at a wharf.

However, there is little medieval evidence for this name. The post-medieval bearers cited below in counties outside WR Yorks may belong with (i) and descend from migrant Yorkshiremen.

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


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Where is the Wharfe family from?

You can see how Wharfe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wharfe family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Wharfe families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 56 Wharfe families living in Yorkshire. This was about 38% of all the recorded Wharfe's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Wharfe families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wharfe 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 Wharfe ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Dairy Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wharfe. 60% of Wharfe men worked as a Dairy Farmer and 95% of Wharfe women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wharfe were Dairyman and Sales Manageress.

View Census Data for Wharfe | 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

  • Dairy Farmer
    60%
  • Dairyman
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    95%
  • Sales Manageress
    5%

What Wharfe family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Wharfe

Passenger Lists

There are 102 immigration records available for the last name Wharfe. 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 Wharfe immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 209 military records available for the last name Wharfe. For the veterans among your Wharfe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wharfe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wharfe family history

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What is the average Wharfe lifespan?

Between 1999 and 2000, in the United States, Wharfe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Wharfe in 1999 was 79, and 85 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wharfe

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wharfe 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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