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James Smith Family History

James Smith Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: De Smith, Hammersmith, Nessmith, Shoesmith, Nesmith, Kupersmith

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Where is the James Smith family from?

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the James Smith 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 James Smith family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name James Smith. Like a window into their day-to-day life, James Smith census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name James Smith. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 899 military records available for the last name James Smith. For the veterans among your James Smith ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average James Smith lifespan?

Average James Smith life expectancy in 1998 was 94 years. This was higher than the general public life expectancy which was 75.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for James Smith

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your James Smith 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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