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Pettifer Family History

Pettifer Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): nickname from Old French pedefer pied de fer ‘iron foot’. It was traditionally explained in French as a nickname for a good infantryman (‘bon marcheur’).

It may also have referred to an old soldier who had lost a foot.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Pettifer family from?

You can see how Pettifer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pettifer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pettifer families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 152 Pettifer families living in London. This was about 21% of all the recorded Pettifer's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Pettifer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pettifer 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 Pettifer ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Pettifer. 14% of Pettifer men worked as a Bricklayer and 76% of Pettifer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pettifer were General Labourer and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Pettifer | 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

  • Bricklayer
    14%
  • Builders Labourer
    10%
  • Gardener
    10%
  • General Labourer
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    2%

What Pettifer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 18,000 census records available for the last name Pettifer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pettifer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pettifer

Passenger Lists

There are 866 immigration records available for the last name Pettifer. 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 Pettifer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 824 military records available for the last name Pettifer. For the veterans among your Pettifer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pettifer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pettifer family history

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What is the average Pettifer lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2002, in the United States, Pettifer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1975. The average life expectancy for Pettifer in 1965 was 77, and 81 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pettifer

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pettifer 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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