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Seward Family History

Seward Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Seward (Old English Sǣweard from sǣ ‘sea’ + weard ‘guard’).

English: from the Middle English personal name Siward Seward (Old English Sigeweard from sige ‘victory’ + weard ‘guard’ or the equivalent Old Norse Sigwarth).

Irish (Cork): shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Suaird Ó Suairt usually Anglicized as Sword.

The surname Seward (in any of the three possible senses) is also established among African Americans.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Seward family from?

You can see how Seward families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Seward family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Seward families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 268 Seward families living in London. This was about 15% of all the recorded Seward's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Seward families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Seward 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 Seward 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 Seward. 10% of Seward men worked as a Gardener and 68% of Seward women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Seward were Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duti.

View Census Data for Seward | 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
    10%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Builders Labourer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    2%

What Seward family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 90,000 census records available for the last name Seward. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Seward census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Seward

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Seward. 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 Seward immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 14,000 military records available for the last name Seward. For the veterans among your Seward ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Seward military records

You've only scratched the surface of Seward family history

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What is the average Seward lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Seward life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Seward in 1945 was 32, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Seward

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Seward 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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