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Olds Family History

Olds Surname Meaning

English (southwestern): nickname from Middle English old(e) ‘old’ (Old English eald) with post-medieval excrescent -s.

It was used not always to imply old age but also to distinguish the older of two bearers of the same personal name.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Olds family from?

You can see how Olds families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Olds family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Olds families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 183 Olds families living in Cornwall. This was about 42% of all the recorded Olds's in United Kingdom. Cornwall had the highest population of Olds families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olds 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 Olds 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 Olds. 28% of Olds men worked as a Farmer and 81% of Olds women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Olds were Butcher and Housewife.

View Census Data for Olds | 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
    28%
  • Dairy Farmer
    13%
  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Butcher
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Household Duties
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Olds family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 51,000 census records available for the last name Olds. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Olds census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Olds

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Olds. 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 Olds immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Olds. For the veterans among your Olds ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Olds military records

You've only scratched the surface of Olds family history

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What is the average Olds lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Olds life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Olds in 1943 was 47, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Olds

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Olds 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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