This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Redfern family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Redfern Family History

Redfern Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Redfern near Rochdale (Lancashire) recorded as le Redefern in the 13th century.

It is probably derived from Old English rēad ‘red’ + fearn ‘fern bracken’.

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 Redfern family from?

You can see how Redfern families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Redfern family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Redfern families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,089 Redfern families living in Lancashire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Redfern's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Redfern families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Redfern surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Redfern 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 Redfern. 9% of Redfern men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Redfern women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Redfern were Bricklayer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Redfern | 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
    9%
  • Dairy Farmer
    4%
  • Colliery Hewer
    4%
  • Bricklayer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Redfern family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 74,000 census records available for the last name Redfern. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Redfern census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Redfern

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Redfern. For the veterans among your Redfern ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Redfern military records

You've only scratched the surface of Redfern family history

Discover More

What is the average Redfern lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Redfern life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Redfern in 1948 was 52, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Redfern

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Redfern 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 Redfern family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial