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Wanser Family History

Wanser Surname Meaning

Variant of Wanzer a surname of Flemish or Dutch (ultimately perhaps German) origin.

German: habitational name for someone from Wansen in Silesia.

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 Wanser family from?

You can see how Wanser families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wanser family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wanser families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 8 Wanser families living in Northumberland. This was about 53% of all the recorded Wanser's in United Kingdom. Northumberland had the highest population of Wanser families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wanser 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 Wanser ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Wanser. 23% of Wanser men worked as a Laborer and 17% of Wanser women worked as an Operator. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wanser were Farmer and Clerk.

View Census Data for Wanser | 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

  • Laborer
    23%
  • Carpenter
    16%
  • Salesman
    9%
  • Farmer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Operator
    17%
  • Stenographer
    10%
  • Maid
    10%
  • Clerk
    10%

What Wanser family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Wanser. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wanser census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wanser

Passenger Lists

There are 278 immigration records available for the last name Wanser. 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 Wanser immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 663 military records available for the last name Wanser. For the veterans among your Wanser ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wanser military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wanser family history

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What is the average Wanser lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Wanser life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1966, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Wanser in 1962 was 65, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wanser

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wanser 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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