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Gilbert Family History

Gilbert Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin) French and German: from the personal name Giselbert composed of the ancient Germanic elements gīsil ‘pledge, hostage, noble youth’ (see Giesel) + berht ‘bright, famous’.

This personal name enjoyed considerable popularity in England during the Middle Ages partly as a result of the fame of Saint Gilbert of Sempringham (1085–1189), the founder of the only native English monastic order.

Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish surnames.

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 Gilbert family from?

You can see how Gilbert families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gilbert family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gilbert families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2,694 Gilbert families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Gilbert's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gilbert families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gilbert 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 Gilbert 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 Gilbert. 7% of Gilbert men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Gilbert women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gilbert were Gardener and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Gilbert | 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
    7%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Gardener
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Gilbert family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 931,000 census records available for the last name Gilbert. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gilbert census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gilbert

Passenger Lists

There are 89,000 immigration records available for the last name Gilbert. 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 Gilbert immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 143,000 military records available for the last name Gilbert. For the veterans among your Gilbert ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gilbert military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gilbert family history

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What is the average Gilbert lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Gilbert life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gilbert in 1940 was 38, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gilbert

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gilbert 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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