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Compson Family History

Compson Surname Meaning

English (Staffordshire and Warwickshire): patronymic meaning ‘son of the stranger or newcomer’ (Middle English come from Old English cuma ‘guest stranger’ + -son).

The -p- is intrusive. See Coombe.

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 Compson family from?

You can see how Compson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Compson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Compson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 66 Compson families living in Staffordshire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Compson's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Compson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Compson 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 Compson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Wood Machinist Heavy Worker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Compson. 34% of Compson men worked as a Wood Machinist Heavy Worker and 97% of Compson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Compson were General Labourer and Music Shop Assistant.

View Census Data for Compson | 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

  • Wood Machinist Heavy Worker
    34%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    34%
  • General Labourer
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    97%
  • Music Shop Assistant
    4%

What Compson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Compson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Compson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Compson

Passenger Lists

There are 607 immigration records available for the last name Compson. 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 Compson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 429 military records available for the last name Compson. For the veterans among your Compson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Compson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Compson family history

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What is the average Compson lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Compson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1995, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Compson in 1943 was 38, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Compson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Compson 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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