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Dexter Family History

Dexter Surname Meaning

English (East Midlands): occupational name from Middle English dexter(e) dei(gh)ester deyster ‘dyer’ (Old English deaʒestre deʒ(e)stre).

The word originally denoted a female dyer but came to be used for dyers of both sexes.

Compare Dyer.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Dexter family from?

You can see how Dexter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dexter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dexter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 381 Dexter families living in Leicestershire. This was about 18% of all the recorded Dexter's in United Kingdom. Leicestershire had the highest population of Dexter families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dexter 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 Dexter 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 Dexter. 12% of Dexter men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Dexter women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dexter were Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Dexter | 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
    12%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Bus Conductor
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Dexter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 100,000 census records available for the last name Dexter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dexter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dexter

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Dexter. 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 Dexter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Dexter. For the veterans among your Dexter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dexter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dexter family history

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What is the average Dexter lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Dexter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Dexter in 1944 was 31, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dexter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dexter 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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