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Pearson Family History

Pearson Surname Meaning

English: patronymic from the Middle English personal name Per(e) or Piers (see Pear and Pierce) + son. The surname is also quite common in Ireland where it has been established for many centuries.

Compare Peerson. Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish (Ashkenazic) surnames.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pearson family from?

You can see how Pearson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pearson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pearson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 8,430 Pearson families living in Yorkshire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Pearson's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Pearson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pearson 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 Pearson 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 Pearson. 6% of Pearson men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Pearson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pearson were Farmer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Pearson | 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
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    2%
  • Farmer
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Pearson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Pearson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pearson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pearson

Passenger Lists

There are 109,000 immigration records available for the last name Pearson. 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 Pearson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 127,000 military records available for the last name Pearson. For the veterans among your Pearson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pearson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pearson family history

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What is the average Pearson lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Pearson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Pearson in 1940 was 29, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pearson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pearson 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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