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Browning Family History

Browning Surname Meaning

English (southern): from the Middle English personal name Brouning (Old English Brūning)

a derivative of the byname Brūn (see Brown).

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 Browning family from?

You can see how Browning families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Browning family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Browning families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 997 Browning families living in London. This was about 17% of all the recorded Browning's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Browning families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Browning 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 Browning 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 Browning. 6% of Browning men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Browning women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Browning were Retired and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Browning | 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
    6%
  • Bricklayer
    4%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Retired
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Browning family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 273,000 census records available for the last name Browning. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Browning census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Browning

Passenger Lists

There are 30,000 immigration records available for the last name Browning. 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 Browning immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 47,000 military records available for the last name Browning. For the veterans among your Browning ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Browning military records

You've only scratched the surface of Browning family history

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What is the average Browning lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Browning life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Browning in 1941 was 33, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Browning

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Browning 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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