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Putnam Family History

Putnam Surname Meaning

English (Middlesex and Buckinghamshire): habitational name from either of two places in Hertfordshire and Surrey called Puttenham from the genitive case of the Old English byname Putta meaning ‘kite’ (the bird)

+ Old English hām ‘homestead’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Putnam family from?

You can see how Putnam families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Putnam family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Putnam families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 110 Putnam families living in London. This was about 45% of all the recorded Putnam's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Putnam families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Putnam 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 Putnam 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 Putnam. 22% of Putnam men worked as a General Labourer and 80% of Putnam women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Putnam were Postman and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Putnam | 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
    22%
  • Bricklayer
    16%
  • Retired
    11%
  • Postman
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housekeeper
    2%

What Putnam family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 107,000 census records available for the last name Putnam. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Putnam census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Putnam

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Putnam. 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 Putnam immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 30,000 military records available for the last name Putnam. For the veterans among your Putnam ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Putnam military records

You've only scratched the surface of Putnam family history

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What is the average Putnam lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Putnam life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Putnam in 1942 was 54, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Putnam

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Putnam 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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