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Bristol Family History

Bristol Surname Meaning

English:: variant of Bristow respelled to conform to the spelling of the modern placename. possibly also a variant of Burstall.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bristol family from?

You can see how Bristol families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bristol family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bristol families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 67 Bristol families living in Lancashire. This was about 22% of all the recorded Bristol's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Bristol families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bristol 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 Bristol ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bristol. 34% of Bristol men worked as a Gardener and 75% of Bristol women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bristol were Schoolmaster and Invalid.

View Census Data for Bristol | 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

  • Gardener
    34%
  • Boot Repairer
    34%
  • Schoolmaster
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Invalid
    3%

What Bristol family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 48,000 census records available for the last name Bristol. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bristol census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bristol

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Bristol. 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 Bristol immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 17,000 military records available for the last name Bristol. For the veterans among your Bristol ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bristol military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bristol family history

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What is the average Bristol lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Bristol life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Bristol in 1944 was 66, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bristol

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

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