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Schlesinger Family History

Schlesinger Surname Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name for someone from Silesia German Schlesien Schlesing ‘Silesia’ (Polish Śląsk). The area was named for the Silingae an ancient Germanic people who occupied the region before being displaced by Slavs in the 8th century AD.

It has been governed at different times by Prussia and by Poland. Since 1945 it has been part of Poland.

Other places called with the same element include Schleusingen in Saxony, Schlenzig in Pomerania, and Schlenz in Silesia itself, and it is possible that in some instances the surname derives from one of these.

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


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Where is the Schlesinger family from?

You can see how Schlesinger families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Schlesinger family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Schlesinger families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 55 Schlesinger families living in London. This was about 55% of all the recorded Schlesinger's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Schlesinger families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Schlesinger 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 Schlesinger ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, No Occupation Merchant and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Schlesinger. 34% of Schlesinger men worked as a No Occupation Merchant and 55% of Schlesinger women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Schlesinger were Company Director Jewellry and Private Means.

View Census Data for Schlesinger | 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

  • No Occupation Merchant
    34%
  • Dental Surgeon
    34%
  • Company Director Jewellry
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    55%
  • Domestic Servant
    18%
  • Unpaid Duties (home)
    6%
  • Private Means
    6%

What Schlesinger family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 19,000 census records available for the last name Schlesinger. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Schlesinger census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Schlesinger

Passenger Lists

There are 14,000 immigration records available for the last name Schlesinger. 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 Schlesinger immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Schlesinger. For the veterans among your Schlesinger ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Schlesinger military records

You've only scratched the surface of Schlesinger family history

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What is the average Schlesinger lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Schlesinger life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Schlesinger in 1948 was 40, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Schlesinger

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Schlesinger 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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