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Went Family History

Went Surname Meaning

Danish and German: variant of Wente. English: topographic name from Middle English went(e) ‘passage path way’.

English: perhaps occasionally from the river Went (Yorkshire).

The river name may mean ‘the pleasant stream’ from Proto-Welsh wĭnet or wĭnēd.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Went family from?

You can see how Went families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Went family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Went families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 179 Went families living in Essex. This was about 27% of all the recorded Went's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Went families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Went 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 Went 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 Went. 13% of Went men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Went women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Went were Gardener and Housewife.

View Census Data for Went | 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
    13%
  • Bricklayer
    11%
  • Painter
    8%
  • Gardener
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Went family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Went. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Went census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Went

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Went. 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 Went immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Went military records

You've only scratched the surface of Went family history

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What is the average Went lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Went life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1997, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Went in 1951 was 57, and 94 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Went

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Went 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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