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Fordner Family History

Fordner Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Cordner, Fortner, Bordner, Forner, Ordner, Gordner, Forkner, Forster

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Fordner family from?

You can see how Fordner families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fordner family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fordner families were found in USA in 1920. In 1871 there were 2 Fordner families living in Lanarkshire. This was about 40% of all the recorded Fordner's in Scotland. Lanarkshire and 1 other county had the highest population of Fordner families in 1871.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fordner 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 Fordner ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Fordner. 34% of Fordner men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Fordner women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fordner were Truck Driver and Laundress.

View Census Data for Fordner | 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
    34%
  • Salesman
    23%
  • Laborer
    23%
  • Truck Driver
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    50%
  • Laundress
    50%

What Fordner family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 296 census records available for the last name Fordner. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fordner census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fordner

Passenger Lists

There are 10 immigration records available for the last name Fordner. 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 Fordner immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 70 military records available for the last name Fordner. For the veterans among your Fordner ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fordner military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fordner family history

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What is the average Fordner lifespan?

Between 1974 and 1993, in the United States, Fordner life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Fordner in 1974 was 80, and 90 in 1993.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fordner

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fordner 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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