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Metcalf Family History

Metcalf Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire): apparently a nickname from Middle English mete ‘meat food’.

It is derived from the combination of mete and calf ‘calf’,

i.e. ‘calf to be fattened up for eating’.

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


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Where is the Metcalf family from?

You can see how Metcalf families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Metcalf family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Metcalf families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 1,601 Metcalf families living in Yorkshire. This was about 28% of all the recorded Metcalf's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Metcalf families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Metcalf 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 Metcalf 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 Metcalf. 11% of Metcalf men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Metcalf women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Metcalf were Dairy Farmer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Metcalf | 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
    4%
  • Retired
    3%
  • Dairy Farmer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Metcalf family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 196,000 census records available for the last name Metcalf. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Metcalf census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Metcalf

Passenger Lists

There are 18,000 immigration records available for the last name Metcalf. 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 Metcalf immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 28,000 military records available for the last name Metcalf. For the veterans among your Metcalf ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Metcalf military records

You've only scratched the surface of Metcalf family history

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What is the average Metcalf lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Metcalf life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Metcalf in 1942 was 45, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Metcalf

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Metcalf 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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