This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Guernsey family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Guernsey Family History

Guernsey Surname Meaning

English (southern): habitational name from the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

The name of the island is from the Old Norse ey ‘island’ with an uncertain first element perhaps the male personal name Grani in the genitive case with original -ar or from a genitive case form of grǫn ‘pine’.

This surname is now rare in Britain.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Guernsey family from?

You can see how Guernsey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Guernsey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Guernsey families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 29 Guernsey families living in London. This was about 50% of all the recorded Guernsey's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Guernsey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Guernsey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Guernsey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Guernsey. 72% of Guernsey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Guernsey | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Incapacitated
    29%

What Guernsey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Guernsey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Guernsey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Guernsey

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Guernsey. For the veterans among your Guernsey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Guernsey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Guernsey family history

Discover More

What is the average Guernsey lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Guernsey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Guernsey in 1954 was 28, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Guernsey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Guernsey 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 Guernsey family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial