This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Common family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Common Family History

Common Surname Meaning

English:: nickname from Middle English comen Old English cuman ‘guest stranger newcomer’. variant of Cumming.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Common family from?

You can see how Common families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Common family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Common families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 207 Common families living in Northumberland. This was about 41% of all the recorded Common's in United Kingdom. Northumberland had the highest population of Common families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Common surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Common 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 Common. 18% of Common men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Common women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Common were Incapacitated and Unpaid Household Duties.

View Census Data for Common | 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
    18%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Joiner
    9%
  • Incapacitated
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    3%

What Common family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Common. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Common census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Common

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Common. For the veterans among your Common ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Common military records

You've only scratched the surface of Common family history

Discover More

What is the average Common lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Common life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1965. The average life expectancy for Common in 1945 was 35, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Common

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial