This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Boatswain family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Boatswain Family History

Boatswain Surname Meaning

English (Dorset): occupational name or relationship name from Old English bātswegen (from Old Norse bátsveinn) ‘boatman’

used also as a personal name.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Boatswain family from?

You can see how Boatswain families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Boatswain family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Boatswain families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 30 Boatswain families living in Dorset. This was about 75% of all the recorded Boatswain's in United Kingdom. Dorset had the highest population of Boatswain families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Boatswain surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Boatswain 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 Boatswain. 100% of Boatswain men worked as a General Labourer and 86% of Boatswain women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Boatswain | 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
    86%
  • Laundress
    15%

What Boatswain family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Boatswain. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Boatswain census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Boatswain

Passenger Lists

There are 233 immigration records available for the last name Boatswain. 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 Boatswain immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 288 military records available for the last name Boatswain. For the veterans among your Boatswain ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Boatswain military records

You've only scratched the surface of Boatswain family history

Discover More

What is the average Boatswain lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2001, in the United States, Boatswain life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1994, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Boatswain in 1963 was 83, and 80 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Boatswain

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial