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American Family History

American Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Merica, Amerman, Merical, Adrian, Merida, Yerian, Merin, Cherian

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the American family from?

You can see how American families moved over time by selecting different census years. The American family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most American families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 10 American families living in New York. This was about 28% of all the recorded American's in USA. New York had the highest population of American families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the American 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 American ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named American. 100% of American men worked as a Laborer and 100% of American women worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for American | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    100%

What American family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for American

Passenger Lists

There are 602 immigration records available for the last name American. 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 American immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 561 military records available for the last name American. For the veterans among your American ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all American military records

You've only scratched the surface of American family history

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What is the average American lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2003, in the United States, American life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1992, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for American in 1964 was 75, and 99 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for American

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your American 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the American family tree

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