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Venema Family History

Venema Surname Meaning

Dutch (mainly Groningen and Drenthe) and West Frisian: topographic name denoting someone who lived by a peat bog from Dutch veen + the Frisian suffix -(e)ma.

This term originally referred to ‘(one of the) men of’ those who resided near the peat bogs.

Peat bogs, historically significant in many cultures, often shaped the landscape and lifestyle of the communities surrounding them.

In the context of linguistics, the combination of Dutch and Frisian elements illustrates the interplay between different languages and cultures.

Understanding the origins of such topographic names can provide insights into the geographic and social histories of the regions in question.

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


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Where is the Venema family from?

You can see how Venema families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Venema family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1891 and 1920. The most Venema families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 5 Venema families living in Oxfordshire. This was about 71% of all the recorded Venema's in United Kingdom. Oxfordshire had the highest population of Venema families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Venema 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 Venema ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Venema. 31% of Venema men worked as a Farmer and 24% of Venema women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Venema were Laborer and Maid.

View Census Data for Venema | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    31%
  • Salesman
    12%
  • Carpenter
    10%
  • Laborer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    24%
  • Assembler
    16%
  • House Work
    16%
  • Maid
    16%

What Venema family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Venema. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Venema census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Venema

Passenger Lists

There are 833 immigration records available for the last name Venema. 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 Venema immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 450 military records available for the last name Venema. For the veterans among your Venema ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Venema military records

You've only scratched the surface of Venema family history

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What is the average Venema lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Venema life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Venema in 1953 was 37, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Venema

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Venema 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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