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Sussex Family History

Sussex Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from the English county of Sussex named ‘(territory of) the South Saxons’ from Old English sūth ‘south southern’.

Seaxe ‘Saxons’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Sussex family from?

You can see how Sussex families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sussex family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Sussex families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 97 Sussex families living in Devon. This was about 41% of all the recorded Sussex's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Sussex families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex. 50% of Sussex men worked as a General Labourer and 76% of Sussex women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sussex were Gardener and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Sussex | 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
    50%
  • Colliery Hewer Under Groun
    25%
  • Gardener
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Household Duties
    8%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%

What Sussex family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Sussex. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sussex census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sussex

Passenger Lists

There are 627 immigration records available for the last name Sussex. 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 Sussex immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 522 military records available for the last name Sussex. For the veterans among your Sussex ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sussex military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sussex family history

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What is the average Sussex lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Sussex life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Sussex in 1952 was 43, and 96 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sussex

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

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