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Woolmer Family History

Woolmer Surname Meaning

From the Middle English personal name Wulmar Wolmer (Old English Wulfmǣr from wulf ‘wolf’ + mǣr(e) ‘famous’). Some of the surname early bearers may belong under (2).

Alternatively, perhaps from Woolmer Forest (Hants), Wolmer Farm in Ogbourne Saint George (Wilts), Woolmore Farm in Melksham (Wilts), or any other place named with Middle English wolf + mere ‘pool’.

Reaney also suggests a lost place-name Wolmoor in Ormskirk (Lancs), apparently based on the two early bearers from 1246. Some of the early bearers below may belong with (1).

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Woolmer family from?

You can see how Woolmer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Woolmer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Woolmer families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 92 Woolmer families living in London. This was about 24% of all the recorded Woolmer's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Woolmer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Woolmer 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 Woolmer 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 Woolmer. 27% of Woolmer men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Woolmer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Woolmer were Gardener and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Woolmer | 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
    27%
  • Builders Labourer
    12%
  • Carpenter
    9%
  • Gardener
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%

What Woolmer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Woolmer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Woolmer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Woolmer

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 731 military records available for the last name Woolmer. For the veterans among your Woolmer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Woolmer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Woolmer family history

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What is the average Woolmer lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2002, in the United States, Woolmer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1979, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Woolmer in 1955 was 67, and 85 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Woolmer

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Woolmer 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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