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Roots Family History

Roots Surname Meaning

English (Kent): variant of Root with post-medieval excrescent -s.

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 Roots family from?

You can see how Roots families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Roots family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Roots families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 363 Roots families living in Kent. This was about 41% of all the recorded Roots's in United Kingdom. Kent had the highest population of Roots families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Roots 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 Roots ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Roots. 17% of Roots men worked as a Gardener and 71% of Roots women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Roots were Bricklayer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Roots | 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

  • Gardener
    17%
  • General Labourer
    12%
  • Farmworker
    10%
  • Bricklayer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

What Roots family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 30,000 census records available for the last name Roots. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Roots census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Roots

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Roots. 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 Roots immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Roots. For the veterans among your Roots ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Roots military records

You've only scratched the surface of Roots family history

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What is the average Roots lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Roots life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Roots in 1953 was 40, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Roots

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Roots 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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