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Dipper Family History

Dipper Surname Meaning

Probably mostly a variant of Diaper (from the Anglo-Norman surname d'Ypre) with the vowel shortened in Middle English, but some bearers listed below may belong at (2).

Perhaps in some instances from Middle English dip(p)er, recorded as a term for some kind of diving bird (maybe the dabchick or the water ousel now commonly called the dipper) and possibly used of a human diver—one who dives to harvest oysters or to mend boats, weirs, or fishing nets. Compare Diver.

Alternatively, it might be an unrecorded agent derivative of Middle English dippen ‘to immerse (something),’ possibly therefore an occupational name for a dyer of cloth.

For potential medieval bearers in SW and W England see Diaper, although none have the tell-tale definite article.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Dipper family from?

You can see how Dipper families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dipper family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Dipper families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 30 Dipper families living in Oxfordshire. This was about 16% of all the recorded Dipper's in United Kingdom. Oxfordshire had the highest population of Dipper families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dipper 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 Dipper 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 Dipper. 47% of Dipper men worked as a General Labourer and 92% of Dipper women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dipper were Gardener and Housewife.

View Census Data for Dipper | 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
    47%
  • Nil
    24%
  • Road Labourer County Council
    16%
  • Gardener
    16%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    92%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Cook
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Dipper family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Dipper. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dipper census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dipper

Passenger Lists

There are 654 immigration records available for the last name Dipper. 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 Dipper immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 702 military records available for the last name Dipper. For the veterans among your Dipper ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dipper military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dipper family history

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What is the average Dipper lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Dipper life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1981, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Dipper in 1966 was 79, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dipper

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dipper 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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