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Bryson Family History

Bryson Surname Meaning

Scottish: patronymic from the personal name Brice + -son (see Brice and Bryce).

Irish (Donegal): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Briosáin a form of Ó Muirgheasáin (see Morrissey) altered by association with the Scottish surname Bryson especially in Derry.

Bryson was also used for Breslin in Donegal.

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


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Where is the Bryson family from?

You can see how Bryson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bryson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bryson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 234 Bryson families living in Northumberland. This was about 30% of all the recorded Bryson's in United Kingdom. Northumberland had the highest population of Bryson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bryson 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 Bryson 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 Bryson. 25% of Bryson men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Bryson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bryson were Carpenter joiner and Unpaid Domestic Duti.

View Census Data for Bryson | 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
    25%
  • Coal Filler (below)
    8%
  • Motor Driver
    8%
  • Carpenter joiner
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    2%

What Bryson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 98,000 census records available for the last name Bryson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bryson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bryson

Passenger Lists

There are 13,000 immigration records available for the last name Bryson. 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 Bryson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Bryson. For the veterans among your Bryson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bryson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bryson family history

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What is the average Bryson lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Bryson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Bryson in 1941 was 31, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bryson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bryson 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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