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Ransom Family History

Ransom Surname Meaning

English:: patronymic from the Middle English personal name Rand, a pet form of the personal name Randolf (see Randolph) + -son.

Perhaps a variant of Ramsden.

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 Ransom family from?

You can see how Ransom families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ransom family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ransom families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 315 Ransom families living in London. This was about 21% of all the recorded Ransom's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Ransom families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ransom 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 Ransom 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 Ransom. 10% of Ransom men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Ransom women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ransom were Gardener and Unpaid Household Duties.

View Census Data for Ransom | 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
    10%
  • Bricklayer
    9%
  • Carpenter
    8%
  • Gardener
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    2%

What Ransom family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 109,000 census records available for the last name Ransom. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ransom census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ransom

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Ransom. 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 Ransom immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 20,000 military records available for the last name Ransom. For the veterans among your Ransom ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ransom military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ransom family history

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What is the average Ransom lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Ransom life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Ransom in 1940 was 62, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ransom

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ransom 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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