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People Family History

People Surname Meaning

English (Hampshire and Wiltshire): variant of Pepall a patronymic from the Middle English personal name Pepel apparently a pet form of Pepin (see Peppin).

It is also sometimes perhaps a habitational name from a placename of unknown identity or origin.

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 People family from?

You can see how People families moved over time by selecting different census years. The People family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most People families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 19 People families living in Wiltshire. This was about 24% of all the recorded People's in United Kingdom. Wiltshire had the highest population of People families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the People 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 People ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Agricultural Machinist and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named People. 34% of People men worked as an Agricultural Machinist and 78% of People women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named People were Farmworker and Housewife.

View Census Data for People | 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

  • Agricultural Machinist
    34%
  • Motor Works Engineer Fitter
    34%
  • Farmworker
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Housewife
    23%

What People family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name People. Like a window into their day-to-day life, People census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for People

Passenger Lists

There are 200 immigration records available for the last name People. 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 People immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name People. For the veterans among your People ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all People military records

You've only scratched the surface of People family history

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What is the average People lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, People life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for People in 1958 was 29, and 66 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for People

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your People 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the People family tree

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