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Henshaw Family History

Henshaw Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire): habitational name from Henshaw in Prestbury (Cheshire) from Old English henn ‘hen’ + sceaga ‘copse small wood’. Habitational name from Henshaw (Northumberland) possibly from the Old Norse personal name Hethinn (genitive Hethinns) + Old English halh ‘nook corner of land’.

See Hensell of which Henshaw is sometimes a variant.

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


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Where is the Henshaw family from?

You can see how Henshaw families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Henshaw family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Henshaw families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 714 Henshaw families living in Lancashire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Henshaw's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Henshaw families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Henshaw 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 Henshaw 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 Henshaw. 11% of Henshaw men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Henshaw women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Henshaw were Incapacitated and Private Means.

View Census Data for Henshaw | 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
    11%
  • Colliery Hewer
    6%
  • Bricklayer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Henshaw family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 67,000 census records available for the last name Henshaw. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Henshaw census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Henshaw

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Henshaw. 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 Henshaw immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Henshaw. For the veterans among your Henshaw ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Henshaw military records

You've only scratched the surface of Henshaw family history

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What is the average Henshaw lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Henshaw life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Henshaw in 1947 was 52, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Henshaw

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Henshaw 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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