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Fischer Family History

Fischer Surname Meaning

German, Danish, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a fisherman from Middle High German visch, German Fisch ‘fish’ + the agent suffix -er. This form of the surname is also established in some other parts of Europe, notably in France (Alsace and Lorraine), Hungary, and the Netherlands.

In Poland, Czechia, Croatia, and Slovenia it is (also) established in the Slavicized forms Fiszer (Polish) and Fišer (see Fiser).

Compare Fisher. Scottish: variant of Fisher.

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 Fischer family from?

You can see how Fischer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fischer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fischer families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 153 Fischer families living in London. This was about 51% of all the recorded Fischer's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fischer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fischer 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 Fischer ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, No Occupation and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fischer. 14% of Fischer men worked as a No Occupation and 57% of Fischer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fischer were Private Means and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Fischer | 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

  • No Occupation
    14%
  • Furrier
    14%
  • Musician
    14%
  • Private Means
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    57%
  • Domestic Servant
    8%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%

What Fischer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 256,000 census records available for the last name Fischer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fischer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fischer

Passenger Lists

There are 116,000 immigration records available for the last name Fischer. 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 Fischer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 171,000 military records available for the last name Fischer. For the veterans among your Fischer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fischer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fischer family history

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What is the average Fischer lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Fischer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Fischer in 1940 was 37, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fischer

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fischer 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fischer family tree

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