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Ensign Family History

Ensign Surname Meaning

English: of uncertain etymology.

From the 16th to the 19th century the English vocabulary word ensign denoted a junior rank of infantry officer which may 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 Ensign family from?

You can see how Ensign families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ensign family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ensign families were found in USA in 1880. In 1841 there were 5 Ensign families living in Aberdeenshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Ensign's in Scotland. Aberdeenshire had the highest population of Ensign families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ensign 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 Ensign ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ensign. 20% of Ensign men worked as a Farmer and 14% of Ensign women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ensign were Farm Laborer and Housework.

View Census Data for Ensign | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    20%
  • Laborer
    12%
  • Salesman
    10%
  • Farm Laborer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    14%
  • Housekeeper
    11%
  • Waitress
    9%
  • Housework
    9%

What Ensign family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Ensign. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ensign census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ensign

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Ensign. 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 Ensign immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Ensign military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ensign family history

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What is the average Ensign lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Ensign life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1967. The average life expectancy for Ensign in 1943 was 41, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ensign

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ensign 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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