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Jonston Family History

Jonston 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: Johnston, Jonsson, Jonson, Royston, Colston, Rolston, Boston, Holston

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Jonston family from?

You can see how Jonston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Jonston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Jonston families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 10 Jonston families living in Lancashire. This was about 31% of all the recorded Jonston's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Jonston families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Jonston 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 Jonston 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 Jonston. 100% of Jonston men worked as a General Labourer and 100% of Jonston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Jonston | 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
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Jonston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Jonston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Jonston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Jonston

Passenger Lists

There are 709 immigration records available for the last name Jonston. 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 Jonston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 726 military records available for the last name Jonston. For the veterans among your Jonston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Jonston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Jonston family history

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What is the average Jonston lifespan?

Between 1965 and 1995, in the United States, Jonston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 1978. The average life expectancy for Jonston in 1965 was 67, and 61 in 1995.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Jonston

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

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