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Hornsby Family History

Hornsby Surname Meaning

English (Durham and Northumberland): habitational name from Hornsby in Cumwhitton (Cumberland) recorded as Ormesby c. 1210 (compare Ormsby) but later acquiring the prosthetic initial H-.

The placename derives from the Old Norse personal name Ormr ‘serpent’ (see Orme) + Old Norse bȳ ‘farmstead village’.

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


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Where is the Hornsby family from?

You can see how Hornsby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hornsby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hornsby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 328 Hornsby families living in Durham. This was about 16% of all the recorded Hornsby's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Hornsby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hornsby 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 Hornsby 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 Hornsby. 18% of Hornsby men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Hornsby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hornsby were Colliery Hewer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Hornsby | 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
    18%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Postman
    4%
  • Colliery Hewer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

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

What Hornsby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 55,000 census records available for the last name Hornsby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hornsby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Hornsby

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Hornsby. 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 Hornsby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Hornsby. For the veterans among your Hornsby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hornsby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hornsby family history

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What is the average Hornsby lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Hornsby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Hornsby in 1942 was 39, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hornsby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Hornsby 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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