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 Houston family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Houston Family History

Houston Surname Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from the barony of Houston (Renfrewshire) from the genitive case of the personal name Hugh + Middle English Older Scots ton ‘town village settlement’ (Old English tūn ‘enclosure settlement’).

The landlord in question was a certain Hugo de Paduinan who held the place c. 1160.

The Scottish surname is also common in Ulster.

Irish: variant of McCutcheon from Mac Uisdein or Mac Uistein.

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 Houston family from?

You can see how Houston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Houston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Houston families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 205 Houston families living in Lancashire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Houston's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Houston families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston. 17% of Houston men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Houston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Houston were Shipwright and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Houston | 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
    17%
  • Builders Labourer
    7%
  • Medical Practitioner
    6%
  • Shipwright
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Houston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 260,000 census records available for the last name Houston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Houston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Houston

Passenger Lists

There are 35,000 immigration records available for the last name Houston. 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 Houston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 69,000 military records available for the last name Houston. For the veterans among your Houston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Houston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Houston family history

Discover More

What is the average Houston lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Houston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Houston in 1940 was 43, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Houston

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

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