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Lear Family History

Lear Surname Meaning

English: nickname from Middle English ler ‘cheek face countenance complexion’ (Old English hlēor) used adjectivally to mean ‘beautiful of face’. English: variant of Layer.

Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Uidhir ‘son of the swarthy lad’ or ‘son of the servant of Odhar’ a byname from odhar (genitive uidhir) ‘dun-colored’ ‘weatherbeaten’.

Compare McAleer.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Lear family from?

You can see how Lear families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lear family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Lear families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 280 Lear families living in Devon. This was about 14% of all the recorded Lear's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Lear families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lear 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 Lear 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 Lear. 16% of Lear men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Lear women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Lear were Plumber and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Lear | 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
    16%
  • Bricklayer
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Plumber
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%

What Lear family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 69,000 census records available for the last name Lear. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Lear census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Lear

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Lear. 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 Lear immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 16,000 military records available for the last name Lear. For the veterans among your Lear ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Lear military records

You've only scratched the surface of Lear family history

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What is the average Lear lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Lear life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1951. The average life expectancy for Lear in 1944 was 35, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Lear

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Lear 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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