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 Henson family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Henson Family History

Henson Surname Meaning

English: patronymic from the Middle English personal names Hen Hend(e) or Hendy (pet forms of Henry or Hendry) + son. Compare Henderson. Hendy may also have been derived from Middle English hendy ‘courteous’ used as a personal name (see Hendy).

English: perhaps sometimes a variant of Hainson a patronymic meaning ‘son of Hayne’; see Hain.

English: in Devon where patronymics in -son rarely originated perhaps a variant of Hingston.

Irish (Westmeath): variant of Hampson.

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 Henson family from?

You can see how Henson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Henson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Henson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 596 Henson families living in Nottinghamshire. This was about 16% of all the recorded Henson's in United Kingdom. Nottinghamshire had the highest population of Henson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Henson 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 Henson 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 Henson. 11% of Henson men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Henson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Henson were Farmer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Henson | 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%
  • Bricklayer
    5%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Farmer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Henson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 200,000 census records available for the last name Henson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Henson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Henson

Passenger Lists

There are 11,000 immigration records available for the last name Henson. 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 Henson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 37,000 military records available for the last name Henson. For the veterans among your Henson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Henson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Henson family history

Discover More

What is the average Henson lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Henson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Henson in 1941 was 47, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Henson

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

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