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Menzies Family History

Menzies Surname Meaning

Scottish: variant of Manners in which the z was originally the Middle English letter ʒ (yogh) representing a sound similar to modern English y. The surname is pronounced Meenyus or Minyas in Scotland.

The name was brought to Scotland in the 12th or 13th century by a family of Norman knights. It appears that the name was re-interpreted in Gaelic as containing a personal name.

For variants ending -s there is a possibility of confusion with McManus. See also McMinn.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Menzies family from?

You can see how Menzies families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Menzies family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Menzies families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 160 Menzies families living in Lancashire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Menzies's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Menzies families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Menzies 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 Menzies 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 Menzies. 16% of Menzies men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Menzies women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Menzies were Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Menzies | 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%
  • Chartered Accountant
    6%
  • Electrical Engineer
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Menzies family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 78,000 census records available for the last name Menzies. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Menzies census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Menzies

Passenger Lists

There are 18,000 immigration records available for the last name Menzies. 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 Menzies immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Menzies. For the veterans among your Menzies ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Menzies military records

You've only scratched the surface of Menzies family history

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What is the average Menzies lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Menzies life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Menzies in 1960 was 55, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Menzies

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Menzies 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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