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Primrose Family History

Primrose Surname Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from the lands of Primrose (Fife). The placename is probably of Celtic origin containing Pictish or Gaelic ros ‘wooded promontory’ with an uncertain first element.

English: nickname from the name of a flower Old French primerole altered in English and Scots to -rose.

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


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Where is the Primrose family from?

You can see how Primrose families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Primrose family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Primrose families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 28 Primrose families living in Norfolk. This was about 28% of all the recorded Primrose's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Primrose families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Primrose 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 Primrose ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Butcher and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Primrose. 50% of Primrose men worked as a Butcher and 65% of Primrose women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Primrose were Salesman (travelling) and Retired.

View Census Data for Primrose | 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

  • Butcher
    50%
  • Salesman (travelling)
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Private Means
    14%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Retired
    4%

What Primrose family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Primrose. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Primrose census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Primrose

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Primrose. 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 Primrose immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Primrose military records

You've only scratched the surface of Primrose family history

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What is the average Primrose lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Primrose life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Primrose in 1943 was 33, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Primrose

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Primrose 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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