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Northam Family History

Northam Surname Meaning

English (southwestern): habitational name from Northam (Devon), Northam Farm in Brean (Somerset), Northam in Southampton (Hampshire), or a lost Northam in Redbridge Hundred, Hampshire. The placenames derive from Old English north ‘north, northern’ + hām ‘village, homestead’ or hamm ‘water meadow’.

Northam in Southampton is likely to derive from hamm, as the settlement is hemmed in by a bend in the river Itchen.

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


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Where is the Northam family from?

You can see how Northam families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Northam family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Northam families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 217 Northam families living in Devon. This was about 36% of all the recorded Northam's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Northam families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Northam 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 Northam 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 Northam. 21% of Northam men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Northam women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Northam were Removal Contractor and Housewife.

View Census Data for Northam | 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
    21%
  • Gardener
    18%
  • Farmer
    9%
  • Removal Contractor
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Domestic Unpaid
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Northam family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 19,000 census records available for the last name Northam. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Northam census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Northam

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Northam. 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 Northam immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Northam. For the veterans among your Northam ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Northam military records

You've only scratched the surface of Northam family history

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What is the average Northam lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Northam life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1964. The average life expectancy for Northam in 1952 was 49, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Northam

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Northam 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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