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Tomlinson Family History

Tomlinson Surname Meaning

English: patronymic from the Middle English personal name T(h)omelin (see Tomlin) + -son ‘son of Tomlin’.

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


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Where is the Tomlinson family from?

You can see how Tomlinson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tomlinson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Tomlinson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 4,180 Tomlinson families living in Lancashire. This was about 29% of all the recorded Tomlinson's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Tomlinson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tomlinson 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 Tomlinson 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 Tomlinson. 7% of Tomlinson men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Tomlinson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Tomlinson were Builders Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Tomlinson | 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
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Farmer
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Cotton Weaver
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Tomlinson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 326,000 census records available for the last name Tomlinson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Tomlinson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Tomlinson

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 35,000 military records available for the last name Tomlinson. For the veterans among your Tomlinson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Tomlinson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Tomlinson family history

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What is the average Tomlinson lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Tomlinson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Tomlinson in 1941 was 59, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Tomlinson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tomlinson 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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