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Berkshire Family History

Berkshire Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from the county of Berkshire in central southern England.

The placename is derived from a Celtic name meaning ‘hilly place’ + Old English scīr ‘shire’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Berkshire family from?

You can see how Berkshire families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Berkshire family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Berkshire families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 59 Berkshire families living in London. This was about 46% of all the recorded Berkshire's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Berkshire families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Berkshire 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 Berkshire ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Berkshire. 100% of Berkshire women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Berkshire | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Berkshire family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Berkshire. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Berkshire census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Berkshire

Passenger Lists

There are 517 immigration records available for the last name Berkshire. 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 Berkshire immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Berkshire. For the veterans among your Berkshire ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Berkshire military records

You've only scratched the surface of Berkshire family history

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What is the average Berkshire lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Berkshire life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1993, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Berkshire in 1963 was 73, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Berkshire

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Berkshire 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 Berkshire family tree

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