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Light Family History

Light Name Meaning

English: from Middle English liht ‘light active’ (Old English lēoht). English: topographic name from Middle English liht leht ‘light’ (Old English lēoht) used for a ‘light place clearing glade’. English: nickname from Middle English lit ‘little’ (Old English lȳt). Compare Little . Americanized form (translation into English) of German Licht and probably also of some cognates from other languages.

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


Similar surnames: Slight, Knight, Wight, Licht, Bright, Leicht, Hight, High, Lucht

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 Light family from?

You can see how Light families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Light family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Light families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 612 Light families living in Hampshire. This was about 20% of all the recorded Light's in United Kingdom. Hampshire had the highest population of Light families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Light surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Light 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 Light. 11% of Light men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Light women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Light were Farmer and Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Light | 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
    11%
  • Builders Labourer
    7%
  • Gardener
    5%
  • Farmer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Light family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 135,000 census records available for the last name Light. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Light census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Light

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Light. 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 Light immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 48,000 military records available for the last name Light. For the veterans among your Light ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Light military records

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What is the average Light lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Light life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Light in 1941 was 68, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Light

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