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Owston Family History

Owston Surname Meaning

English: habitational name principally from Owston Yorkshire which is recorded as Auston in 1371 (compare Auston).

However, it is also derived from one or more of a number of places similarly named.

These include Owston (Lincolnshire), Owston (Leicestershire), Ouston (Durham), and Ouston (Northumberland).

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 Owston family from?

You can see how Owston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Owston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Owston families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 171 Owston families living in Yorkshire. This was about 62% of all the recorded Owston's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Owston families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Owston 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 Owston 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 Owston. 34% of Owston men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Owston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Owston were Agricultural Labourer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Owston | 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
    34%
  • Railway Signalman
    23%
  • Farm Work Horseman
    23%
  • Agricultural Labourer
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Household Duties
    6%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%

What Owston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Owston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Owston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Owston

Passenger Lists

There are 385 immigration records available for the last name Owston. 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 Owston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 386 military records available for the last name Owston. For the veterans among your Owston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Owston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Owston family history

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What is the average Owston lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Owston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1978, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Owston in 1963 was 77, and 96 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Owston

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Owston 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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