High Family History

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High Name Meaning

English (chiefly East Anglia and northern England): nickname for a tall man, from Middle English hegh, hie ‘high’, ‘tall’, Old English heah (compare Hay 2), or a topographic name for a dweller on a hilltop or high place, from the same word used in a topographical sense. This second use is supported by early forms such as Richard atte High (Sussex 1332).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Haigh, Hugh, Hight, Higham, Hogg, Hind, Bligh, Hild, Fish, Wigg

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High Ethnicity Estimate

What are the common regions with the High name?

These results combine data from everyone in the AncestryDNA® database with the last name High. The Ancestry® ethnicity regions shown are top five most common on average for these people.

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  • England & Wales

    51%

  • Ireland & Scotland

    16%

  • Germanic Europe

    8%

  • Cameroon, Congo, & Southern Bantu Peoples

    4%

  • Benin/Togo

    3%

Your own DNA-based ethnicity estimate will differ from what you see here. To get your personalized ethnicity estimate, order an AncestryDNA® kit.order an AncestryDNA® kit.

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High Family Origin

Where is the High family from?

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You can see how High families moved over time by selecting different census years. The High family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most High families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 482 High families living in Norfolk. This was about 37% of all the recorded High's in the UK. Norfolk had the highest population of High families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the High surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for High

High Family Occupations

What did your High ancestors do for a living?

In 1881, a less common occupation for the High family was Blacksmith. Agricultural Labourer, Labourer and Iron Miner were the top 3 reported jobs worked by High. The most common High occupation in the UK was Agricultural Labourer. 8% of High's were Agricultural Labourers.

View Census data for High | Data not to scale

  • Agricultural Labourer

    8%

  • Labourer

    3%

  • Iron Miner

    3%

  • Blacksmith

    2%

Census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your High ancestors, such as occupation. Occupation can tell you about your ancestor's social and economic status.

High Historical Records

What High family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 106,000 census records available for the last name High. Like a window into their day-to-day life, High census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search 1891 UK census records for High

Passenger List

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name High. 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 High immigration records

Draft Card

There are 67,000 military records available for the last name High. For the veterans among your High ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all High military records

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High Life Expectancy

What is the average High lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, High life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for High in 1943 was 37, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for High

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your High 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.

Famous High Family Ancestors

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