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 Tam family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Tam Family History

Tam Surname Meaning

Chinese: Cantonese form of the surnames 譚 and 談 and also a variant Romanization of the surname 覃 see Tan.

1- English and Scottish: from the Middle English personal name Tam, a pet form of Thomas.

Compare Thom.

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 Tam family from?

You can see how Tam families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tam family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Tam families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 71 Tam families living in Durham. This was about 46% of all the recorded Tam's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Tam families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tam 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 Tam ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Retired Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Tam. 34% of Tam men worked as a Retired Farmer and 100% of Tam women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Tam | 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

  • Retired Farmer
    34%
  • Roadstone Quarrier
    34%
  • Dairy Farmer
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Tam family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Tam. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Tam census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Tam

Passenger Lists

There are 26,000 immigration records available for the last name Tam. 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 Tam immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Tam. For the veterans among your Tam ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Tam military records

You've only scratched the surface of Tam family history

Discover More

What is the average Tam lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Tam life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1970, and highest in 1964. The average life expectancy for Tam in 1962 was 67, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Tam

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

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