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Spens Family History

Spens Surname Meaning

Scottish (Lanarkshire): variant of Spence. This surname is also found in Sweden.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Spens family from?

You can see how Spens families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Spens family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Spens families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 19 Spens families living in London. This was about 28% of all the recorded Spens's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Spens families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Spens 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 Spens ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Spens. 82% of Spens women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Spens | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    82%
  • Private Means
    19%

What Spens family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Spens. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Spens census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Spens

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Spens. 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 Spens immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 532 military records available for the last name Spens. For the veterans among your Spens ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Spens military records

You've only scratched the surface of Spens family history

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What is the average Spens lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Spens life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Spens in 1960 was 48, and 59 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Spens

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

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