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Ernst Family History

Ernst Surname Meaning

German, Dutch, and Danish: from the personal name Ernst which is most probably a byname from Middle High German and Middle Dutch ern(e)st ‘combat serious business’. This surname is also found in France (mainly Alsace and Lorraine), Poland, and Czechia.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname or artificial name from German ernst ‘earnest serious’. Compare Ernest.

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 Ernst family from?

You can see how Ernst families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ernst family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ernst families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 18 Ernst families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Ernst's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Ernst families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ernst 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 Ernst ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Commercial Agent and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Ernst. 100% of Ernst men worked as a Commercial Agent and 81% of Ernst women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Ernst | 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

  • Commercial Agent
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Private Means
    10%
  • Domestic Servant
    10%

What Ernst family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 93,000 census records available for the last name Ernst. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ernst census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ernst

Passenger Lists

There are 27,000 immigration records available for the last name Ernst. 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 Ernst immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 118,000 military records available for the last name Ernst. For the veterans among your Ernst ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ernst military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ernst family history

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What is the average Ernst lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Ernst life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Ernst in 1941 was 67, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ernst

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ernst 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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