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Rumford Family History

Rumford Surname Meaning

English (North Yorkshire and Durham):: English (northern): variant of a habitational name from a lost or as yet unlocated place called Rounthwait(e) (perhaps named with Old Norse raun ‘rowan tree’ + thveit ‘clearing’) perhaps in Durham or East Yorkshire.

Perhaps also a habitational name from Romford (Essex) which is probably named in Old English with rūm ‘roomy spacious wide’ + ford ‘ford river crossing’.

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 Rumford family from?

You can see how Rumford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rumford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rumford families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 51 Rumford families living in Yorkshire. This was about 29% of all the recorded Rumford's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Rumford families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rumford 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 Rumford 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 Rumford. 40% of Rumford men worked as a General Labourer and 100% of Rumford women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Rumford | 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
    40%
  • Labourer (builders)
    20%
  • Fish fruit Salesman
    20%
  • Builders Labourer
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Rumford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Rumford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rumford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rumford

Passenger Lists

There are 572 immigration records available for the last name Rumford. 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 Rumford immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Rumford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rumford family history

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What is the average Rumford lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Rumford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Rumford in 1956 was 58, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rumford

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rumford 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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