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Ames Family History

Ames Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): from the Old French personal name Amis or from the feminine form Amice. The Old French word amis is from Latin amicus ‘friend’ which was used in Late Latin as a term for a man of the lower classes in particular a slave. There were also derivatives of this as personal names in particular masculine Amicius and feminine Amicia. Both were in use as personal names in England and may have contributed to the surname.

German: perhaps a nickname for an active person from an ancient Germanic word related to Old High German amazzig ‘busy’.

Dutch: possibly a patronymic from Ame a common personal name in Holland and Friesland, an abbreviated form of an ancient Germanic personal name perhaps beginning with amel ‘strong’.

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


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Where is the Ames family from?

You can see how Ames families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ames family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ames families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 586 Ames families living in London. This was about 28% of all the recorded Ames's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Ames families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ames 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 Ames 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 Ames. 15% of Ames men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Ames women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ames were Builders Labourer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Ames | 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
    15%
  • Bricklayer
    8%
  • Retired
    5%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Ames family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 183,000 census records available for the last name Ames. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ames census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ames

Passenger Lists

There are 15,000 immigration records available for the last name Ames. 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 Ames immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 39,000 military records available for the last name Ames. For the veterans among your Ames ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Ames family history

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What is the average Ames lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Ames life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Ames in 1946 was 36, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ames

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ames 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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