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Brissenden Family History

Brissenden Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from a placed in Kent named Brissenden (near Tenterden) named with the Old English personal name Brēosa (a byname from brēsa ‘gadfly’).

Old English denn translates to ‘woodland pasture (for swine)’, indicating the type of land associated with the name.

The combination of these elements highlights the connection between the personal name and the geographical features of the area.

This name reflects historical agricultural practices, particularly those relating to swine rearing in woodland pastures.

Brissenden thus represents not only a place but also a glimpse into the cultural and linguistic heritage of the region.

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


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Where is the Brissenden family from?

You can see how Brissenden families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Brissenden family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Brissenden families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 139 Brissenden families living in Kent. This was about 59% of all the recorded Brissenden's in United Kingdom. Kent had the highest population of Brissenden families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Brissenden 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 Brissenden ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmworker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Brissenden. 60% of Brissenden men worked as a Farmworker and 82% of Brissenden women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Brissenden were General Labourer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Brissenden | 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

  • Farmworker
    60%
  • General Labourer
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    82%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Housekeeper
    5%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%

What Brissenden family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Brissenden

Passenger Lists

There are 584 immigration records available for the last name Brissenden. 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 Brissenden immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 583 military records available for the last name Brissenden. For the veterans among your Brissenden ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Brissenden military records

You've only scratched the surface of Brissenden family history

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What is the average Brissenden lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Brissenden life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1974. The average life expectancy for Brissenden in 1952 was 47, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Brissenden

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Brissenden 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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