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 Heritage family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Heritage Family History

Heritage Surname Meaning

English: status name for someone who inherited land from an ancestor rather than by feudal gift from an overlord.

From Middle English heritage, Old French eritage means ‘property, especially land, which devolves by right of inheritance’.

This term is derived from Late Latin heritagium, which comes from heres, meaning ‘heir’.

The concept emphasizes the legitimacy of inheritance over feudal obligations.

It highlights the importance of ancestral lineage in property rights within historical contexts.

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 Heritage family from?

You can see how Heritage families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Heritage family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Heritage families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 236 Heritage families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Heritage's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Heritage families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Heritage 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 Heritage 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 Heritage. 14% of Heritage men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Heritage women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Heritage were Gardener and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Heritage | 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
    14%
  • Farmer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Gardener
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

What Heritage family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 31,000 census records available for the last name Heritage. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Heritage census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Heritage

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Heritage military records

You've only scratched the surface of Heritage family history

Discover More

What is the average Heritage lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Heritage life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Heritage in 1943 was 35, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Heritage

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

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