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Singleton Family History

Singleton Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire and West Yorkshire):: habitational name from Singleton (Lancashire) probably from Old English scingol ‘shingle wooden roof tile’ + tūn ‘farmstead estate’. Bearers of this surname are said to be descended from Ughtred de Sinleton holder of lands in Amounderness wapentake (Lancashire) c. 1160–90.

This name was first recorded in Ireland in 1308 and firmly established in Louth and Monaghan during the 17th century. habitational name from Singleton (Sussex) probably from Old English sængel sengel ‘bundle tuft’ + tūn ‘farmstead estate’.

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


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Where is the Singleton family from?

You can see how Singleton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Singleton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Singleton families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2,801 Singleton families living in Lancashire. This was about 45% of all the recorded Singleton's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Singleton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Singleton 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 Singleton 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 Singleton. 8% of Singleton men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Singleton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Singleton were Builders Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Singleton | 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
    8%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Dairy Farmer
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Cotton Weaver
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Singleton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 255,000 census records available for the last name Singleton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Singleton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Singleton

Passenger Lists

There are 18,000 immigration records available for the last name Singleton. 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 Singleton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 40,000 military records available for the last name Singleton. For the veterans among your Singleton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Singleton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Singleton family history

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What is the average Singleton lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Singleton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Singleton in 1940 was 33, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Singleton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Singleton 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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