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Widdicombe Family History

Widdicombe Surname Meaning

English (Devon): habitational name from Widdacombe in Thrushelton, Widdecombe in the Moor, Widdicombe in Marldon, Widdicome in Stokenham, Withycombe in Tedburn Saint Mary, or Withycombe Raleigh (all Devon) or from Withycombe (Somerset).

Widdacombe in Thrushelton derives from Old English wīd ‘wide’ + cumb ‘valley’. Widdecombe in the Moor derives from Old English wīd or wīthig ‘withy willow’ + cumb.

The other placenames derive from Old English wīthig + cumb.

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


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Where is the Widdicombe family from?

You can see how Widdicombe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Widdicombe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Widdicombe families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 237 Widdicombe families living in Devon. This was about 60% of all the recorded Widdicombe's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Widdicombe families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Widdicombe 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 Widdicombe ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Widdicombe. 18% of Widdicombe men worked as a Gardener and 85% of Widdicombe women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Widdicombe were Joiner and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Widdicombe | 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

  • Gardener
    18%
  • General Labourer
    18%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Joiner
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%

What Widdicombe family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Widdicombe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Widdicombe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Widdicombe

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 715 military records available for the last name Widdicombe. For the veterans among your Widdicombe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Widdicombe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Widdicombe family history

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What is the average Widdicombe lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Widdicombe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Widdicombe in 1965 was 61, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Widdicombe

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Widdicombe 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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