This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Sharp family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Sharp Family History

Sharp Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: nickname from Middle English sharp(e) ‘sharp, quick, smart, acute, keen-witted’ (Old English scearp).

Irish: when not the English or Scots name in 1 above, an Anglicized (part translated) form of Gaelic Ó Géaráin ‘descendant of Géarán’, a personal name based on a diminutive of géar ‘sharp’.

Americanized form (translation into English) of German Scharf ‘sharp-cutting’ or of any of several other European names with similar meaning.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Sharp family from?

You can see how Sharp families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sharp family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sharp families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 4,558 Sharp families living in Yorkshire. This was about 22% of all the recorded Sharp's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Sharp families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sharp surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Sharp 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 Sharp. 7% of Sharp men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Sharp women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sharp were Farmer and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Sharp | 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
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Farmer
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%

What Sharp family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 872,000 census records available for the last name Sharp. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sharp census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sharp

Passenger Lists

There are 73,000 immigration records available for the last name Sharp. 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 Sharp immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 124,000 military records available for the last name Sharp. For the veterans among your Sharp ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sharp military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sharp family history

Discover More

What is the average Sharp lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Sharp life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Sharp in 1940 was 46, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sharp

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial