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Glasgow Family History

Glasgow Name Meaning

Scottish (Lanarkshire and Midlothian): habitational name from Glasgow the city on the Clyde (first recorded in 1116 as Glasgu) or from either of two minor places with the same name in Aberdeenshire. The etymology of the placename is disputed; it is probably from Welsh glas ‘gray green blue’ + cau ‘hollows’. Scottish and Irish (Tyrone and Antrim): altered form of Closkey a shortened and Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Bhloscaidhe ‘son of Bloscadh’ (see McCloskey ). Irish: variant of English Glasscock which was once common in County Kildare.

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


Similar surnames: Glass, Gleason, Glasson, Glasow, Gladson, Glascoe, Glasco, Lagos

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 Glasgow family from?

You can see how Glasgow families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Glasgow family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Glasgow families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 95 Glasgow families living in London. This was about 26% of all the recorded Glasgow's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Glasgow families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Glasgow 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 Glasgow 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 Glasgow. 43% of Glasgow men worked as a General Labourer and 80% of Glasgow women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Glasgow were Green Grocer Heavy W and Unpaid Domestic. .

View Census Data for Glasgow | 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
    43%
  • Incapacitated
    15%
  • Cotton Weaver
    15%
  • Green Grocer Heavy W
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Glasgow family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 49,000 census records available for the last name Glasgow. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Glasgow census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Glasgow

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Glasgow. 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 Glasgow immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 14,000 military records available for the last name Glasgow. For the veterans among your Glasgow ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Glasgow military records

You've only scratched the surface of Glasgow family history

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What is the average Glasgow lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Glasgow life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Glasgow in 1943 was 46, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Glasgow

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