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Challenger Family History

Challenger Surname Meaning

English: from Middle English chalenger chalangeour an agent derivative of Middle English chalangen ‘to challenge’ (Old French chalonger)

possibly anecdotal in origin or applied as a nickname for a quarrelsome or litigious person.

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 Challenger family from?

You can see how Challenger families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Challenger family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Challenger families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 156 Challenger families living in Yorkshire. This was about 20% of all the recorded Challenger's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Challenger families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Challenger 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 Challenger ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Colliery Hewer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Challenger. 18% of Challenger men worked as a Colliery Hewer and 66% of Challenger women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Challenger were Carpenter and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Challenger | 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

  • Colliery Hewer
    18%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    6%
  • Carpenter
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%

What Challenger family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Challenger. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Challenger census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Challenger

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Challenger. 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 Challenger immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Challenger. For the veterans among your Challenger ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Challenger military records

You've only scratched the surface of Challenger family history

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What is the average Challenger lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Challenger life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1979. The average life expectancy for Challenger in 1955 was 45, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Challenger

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Challenger 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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