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Charleston Family History

Charleston Surname Meaning

Scottish (West Lothian) and English: patronymic with intrusive -t- from the personal name Charles (compare Charleson).

The various places called Charleston are all of recent origin so they are unlikely to be the source of the surname.

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 Charleston family from?

You can see how Charleston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Charleston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Charleston families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 78 Charleston families living in Lancashire. This was about 33% of all the recorded Charleston's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Charleston families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Charleston 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 Charleston 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 Charleston. 50% of Charleston men worked as a General Labourer and 90% of Charleston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Charleston were Railway Clerk and Housewife.

View Census Data for Charleston | 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
    50%
  • Roadstone Quarrier
    25%
  • Railway Clerk
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    90%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Housewife
    4%

What Charleston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Charleston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Charleston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Charleston

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Charleston. 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 Charleston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 16,000 military records available for the last name Charleston. For the veterans among your Charleston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Charleston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Charleston family history

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What is the average Charleston lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Charleston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Charleston in 1941 was 37, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Charleston

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

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