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Scots Family History

Scots Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Scott, Soots, Cott, Cote, Slott, Schott, Escott, Scutt, Stott, Soto

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Scots family from?

You can see how Scots families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Scots family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Scots families were found in USA in 1880. In 1841 there was 1 Scots family living in Midlothian. This was 100% of all the recorded Scots's in Scotland. Midlothian had the highest population of Scots families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Scots 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 Scots ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Scots. 100% of Scots men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Scots | 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
    100%

What Scots family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 413 census records available for the last name Scots. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Scots census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Scots

Passenger Lists

There are 40 immigration records available for the last name Scots. 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 Scots immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 38 military records available for the last name Scots. For the veterans among your Scots ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Scots military records

You've only scratched the surface of Scots family history

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What is the average Scots lifespan?

Between 1969 and 1987, in the United States, Scots life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Scots in 1969 was 50, and 73 in 1987.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Scots

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

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