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Wilberforce Family History

Wilberforce Surname Meaning

from Wilberfoss (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Wilburgfosse in 120

The place-name derives from the Old English female personal name Wilburg + Old English *foss ‘ditch’.

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


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Where is the Wilberforce family from?

You can see how Wilberforce families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wilberforce family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Wilberforce families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 36 Wilberforce families living in Yorkshire. This was about 45% of all the recorded Wilberforce's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Wilberforce families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wilberforce 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 Wilberforce 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 Wilberforce. 100% of Wilberforce men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Wilberforce women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Wilberforce | 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
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Housewife
    9%
  • Private Means
    7%
  • Domestic Servant
    5%

What Wilberforce family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Wilberforce. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wilberforce census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wilberforce

Passenger Lists

There are 651 immigration records available for the last name Wilberforce. 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 Wilberforce immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 279 military records available for the last name Wilberforce. For the veterans among your Wilberforce ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wilberforce military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wilberforce family history

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What is the average Wilberforce lifespan?

Between 1971 and 1987, in the United States, Wilberforce life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1987, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Wilberforce in 1971 was 62, and 23 in 1987.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wilberforce

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wilberforce 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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