History of your Surname
Get access to Ordway family records.Start a free trial

Ordway Family History

Ordway Name Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Ordwy Ordwic (from Old English Ordwīg composed of the elements ord ‘point spear’ + wīg ‘war’).

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


Similar surnames: Ottaway, Bradway, Radway, Organ, Gadway, Rodway, Day, Broadway, Oran

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Ordway family from?

You can see how Ordway families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ordway family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Ordway families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 49 Ordway families living in London. This was about 71% of all the recorded Ordway's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Ordway families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ordway surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Ordway ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Ordway. 89% of Ordway women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Ordway | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    89%
  • Housewife
    12%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ordway family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Ordway. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ordway census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ordway

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Ordway. 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 Ordway immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Ordway. For the veterans among your Ordway ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ordway military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ordway family history

Discover More

What is the average Ordway lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Ordway life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Ordway in 1945 was 26, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ordway

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ordway family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Ordway last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial