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Retz Family History

Retz Surname Meaning

German:: habitational name from any of several places called Retz or Retzen in northwestern Germany and Austria.

from a short form of any of various ancient Germanic compound personal names formed with rād rāt ‘advice counsel’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Retz family from?

You can see how Retz families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Retz family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Retz families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 4 Retz families living in Lancashire. This was about 57% of all the recorded Retz's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Retz families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Retz 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 Retz ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Retz. 19% of Retz men worked as a Laborer and 14% of Retz women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Retz were Salesman and Maid.

View Census Data for Retz | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    19%
  • Farmer
    19%
  • Clerk
    6%
  • Salesman
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    14%
  • Clerk
    11%
  • Housewife
    11%
  • Maid
    9%

What Retz family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Retz. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Retz census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Retz

Passenger Lists

There are 955 immigration records available for the last name Retz. 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 Retz immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Retz. For the veterans among your Retz ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Retz military records

You've only scratched the surface of Retz family history

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What is the average Retz lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Retz life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Retz in 1944 was 36, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Retz

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

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