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Calderwood Family History

Calderwood Surname Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from Calderwood in Lanarkshire named from the Cumbrian river name Calder (see Calder).

It is derived from the combination of the river's name and the Middle English term wode, which means ‘wood’.

This implies that Calderwood may have originally referred to a wooded area near the river Calder.

The name reflects the geographical and natural features prominent in the region.

Such habitational names are common in Scottish naming conventions, often tying a person's identity to their place of origin.

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 Calderwood family from?

You can see how Calderwood families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Calderwood family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Calderwood families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 101 Calderwood families living in Lancashire. This was about 36% of all the recorded Calderwood's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Calderwood families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Calderwood surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Calderwood 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 Calderwood. 34% of Calderwood men worked as a General Labourer and 76% of Calderwood women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Calderwood were Plumber and Private Means.

View Census Data for Calderwood | 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
    34%
  • Copperworker (heavy Work
    25%
  • Iron Moulder Heavy Worker
    25%
  • Plumber
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Cotton Weaver
    5%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Calderwood family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 25,000 census records available for the last name Calderwood. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Calderwood census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Calderwood

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Calderwood. 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 Calderwood immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Calderwood. For the veterans among your Calderwood ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Calderwood military records

You've only scratched the surface of Calderwood family history

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What is the average Calderwood lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Calderwood life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Calderwood in 1943 was 45, and 81 in 2004.

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

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