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Prowse Family History

Prowse Surname Meaning

English (Devon and Cornwall): nickname from Middle English prous prus variant forms of prou ‘brave, valiant, proud’ (see Prue).

English (Devon and Cornwall): ethnic name: from Middle English Prus(se) Pruce ‘Prussia, Prussian’ for someone from that region.

Compare Sprouse. Americanized form of German Prause or Praus or perhaps of some other similar (like-sounding) surname.

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 Prowse family from?

You can see how Prowse families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Prowse family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Prowse families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 650 Prowse families living in Devon. This was about 46% of all the recorded Prowse's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Prowse families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Prowse 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 Prowse ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Dairy Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Prowse. 11% of Prowse men worked as a Dairy Farmer and 69% of Prowse women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Prowse were Retired and Private Means.

View Census Data for Prowse | 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

  • Dairy Farmer
    11%
  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Gardener
    8%
  • Retired
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Prowse family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 33,000 census records available for the last name Prowse. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Prowse census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Prowse

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Prowse. 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 Prowse immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Prowse. For the veterans among your Prowse ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Prowse military records

You've only scratched the surface of Prowse family history

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What is the average Prowse lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Prowse life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Prowse in 1948 was 25, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Prowse

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Prowse 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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