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Darling Family History

Darling Name Meaning

English and Scottish: from Middle English derling Old English dēorling ‘darling beloved one’ a derivative of dēor ‘dear beloved’ (see Dear ). This was quite a common Old English byname which remained current as a personal name into the 14th century. The surname probably derives at least in part from this use probably in part also from a Middle English nickname.

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


Similar surnames: Harling, Darwin, Dalling, Daring, Arling, Harding, Dowling, Burling

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Darling family from?

You can see how Darling families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Darling family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Darling families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 555 Darling families living in London. This was about 26% of all the recorded Darling's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Darling families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Darling surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Darling 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 Darling. 15% of Darling men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Darling women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Darling were Builders Labourer and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Darling | 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
    15%
  • Farmer
    4%
  • Gardener
    4%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Darling family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 178,000 census records available for the last name Darling. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Darling census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Darling

Passenger Lists

There are 16,000 immigration records available for the last name Darling. 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 Darling immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 27,000 military records available for the last name Darling. For the veterans among your Darling ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Darling military records

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What is the average Darling lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Darling life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Darling in 1944 was 46, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Darling

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