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Wenham Family History

Wenham Surname Meaning

English (Kent and Sussex): habitational name from Great or Little Wenham (Suffolk) or Wenham in Rogate (Sussex).

The Suffolk placename derives from an uncertain initial element (perhaps Old English wynne ‘pasture’ or wenn ‘tumor’ used to describe or name a hill) + Old English hām ‘village homestead’.

The Sussex placename may derive from an Old English personal name Wēna + Old English hām.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Wenham family from?

You can see how Wenham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wenham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wenham families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 276 Wenham families living in Sussex. This was about 23% of all the recorded Wenham's in United Kingdom. Sussex had the highest population of Wenham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wenham 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 Wenham 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 Wenham. 8% of Wenham men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Wenham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wenham were Farm Labourer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Wenham | 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
    8%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Postman
    5%
  • Farm Labourer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Wenham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 23,000 census records available for the last name Wenham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wenham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wenham

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Wenham. 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 Wenham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Wenham. For the veterans among your Wenham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wenham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wenham family history

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What is the average Wenham lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Wenham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1987, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Wenham in 1963 was 66, and 80 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wenham

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wenham 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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