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Laughton Family History

Laughton Surname Meaning

English:: habitational name from Laughton en le Morthen in Yorkshire, Laughton in Leicestershire or Laughton in Lincolnshire (near Gainsborough). The places are named with Old English lēac ‘leek’ + tūn ‘enclosure’ meaning ‘village or farm where leeks are grown’. It may sometimes have alternated with Leighton which is mostly from placenames with the same etymology.

Occasionally, perhaps a habitational name from Loughton in Essex. The placename denoted ‘Luh(h)a's estate’ (Old English Luh(h)a + the connective infix -ing- + Old English tūn). English surnames from the placename usually occur as Loughton.

However, the placename is also recorded as Lufton in 1512 and Laughton in 1586, and it is these variants that gave rise to the forms of the surname that were taken to the US; see Loftin.

Additionally, it serves as a variant of Lawton.

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


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Where is the Laughton family from?

You can see how Laughton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Laughton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Laughton families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 320 Laughton families living in Yorkshire. This was about 22% of all the recorded Laughton's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Laughton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Laughton 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 Laughton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Laughton. 11% of Laughton men worked as a Farmer and 72% of Laughton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Laughton were Retired and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Laughton | 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

  • Farmer
    11%
  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Retired
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Household Duties
    3%

What Laughton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 41,000 census records available for the last name Laughton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Laughton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Laughton

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Laughton. 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 Laughton immigration records

Draft Cards

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

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What is the average Laughton lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Laughton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Laughton in 1945 was 34, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Laughton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Laughton 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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