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Syme Family History

Syme Surname Meaning

Scottish: variant of Sim.

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 Syme family from?

You can see how Syme families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Syme family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Syme families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 26 Syme families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Syme's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Syme families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Syme 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 Syme ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Window Cleaner and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Syme. 100% of Syme men worked as a Window Cleaner and 82% of Syme women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Syme | 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

  • Window Cleaner
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    82%
  • Domestic Servant
    5%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Syme family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 22,000 census records available for the last name Syme. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Syme census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Syme

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Syme. 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 Syme immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Syme. For the veterans among your Syme ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Syme military records

You've only scratched the surface of Syme family history

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What is the average Syme lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Syme life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1978. The average life expectancy for Syme in 1945 was 57, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Syme

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Syme 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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