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Wisby Family History

Wisby Surname Meaning

English (Middlesex and Essex): habitational name from Whisby in Lincolnshire named from the Old Norse personal name Hvit (genitive Hvits) + Old Norse bȳ ‘farmstead village’. Alternatively a habitational name from Wisbech in Cambridgeshire named from Old English wise ‘river swamp’ or wisce ‘marshy meadow’.

Another possibility is the connection to the river Wissey, which derives its name from Old English wise.

The term bece or bæce translates to ‘stream valley’, further linking these places to their geographical features.

Thus, the name reflects both the natural environment and historical roots of the areas in question.

Each origin story contributes to the rich tapestry of English place names.

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


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Where is the Wisby family from?

You can see how Wisby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wisby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wisby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 64 Wisby families living in London. This was about 40% of all the recorded Wisby's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Wisby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wisby 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 Wisby ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, House Painter and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wisby. 28% of Wisby men worked as a House Painter and 84% of Wisby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wisby were Cowman and No Occupation (retired).

View Census Data for Wisby | 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

  • House Painter
    28%
  • Retired
    19%
  • General Labourer
    19%
  • Cowman
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    84%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    6%
  • Housemaid
    3%
  • No Occupation (retired)
    3%

What Wisby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Wisby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wisby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wisby

Passenger Lists

There are 402 immigration records available for the last name Wisby. 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 Wisby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 579 military records available for the last name Wisby. For the veterans among your Wisby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wisby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wisby family history

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What is the average Wisby lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Wisby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Wisby in 1949 was 38, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wisby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wisby 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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