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George Family History

George Surname Meaning

English, Welsh, French, and Romanian derive from the personal name George, which originates from the Latin Georgius and the Greek Geōrgios. This name stems from the adjectival form geōrgios, meaning ‘rustic’, and the Greek term geōrgos, which translates to ‘farmer’. It became established as a personal name in classical times, particularly through its association with the popularity of pastoral poetry.

The name's popularity in Western Europe surged during the time of the Crusades, which led to increased contact with the Orthodox Church. Many Christian martyrs and saints named George were venerated during this time, most notably a saint believed to have been martyred at Nicomedia in AD 303, although his historical existence is somewhat nebulous. By the end of the Middle Ages, Saint George became intertwined with an enduring legend of dragon-slaying, which captivated the imaginations of people across Europe.

As a result of this legend, Saint George became recognized as the patron saint of England, among other regions. In North America, the English form of the surname has incorporated numerous cognates from other languages. Examples include the German Georg, Assyrian/Chaldean Giwargis, as well as Albanian Gjergji and their respective patronymics and derivatives.

Furthermore, Greek names such as Georgiadis and Georgopoulos, along with Romanian variants like Georgescu and Gheorghescu, reflect the name's widespread influence. In Serbian, the name appears as Djordjevic. The name George is also present among Christians in southern India, with comparatives like Geevarghese and Varghese.

In southern India, since there is a tradition against hereditary surnames, the name was typically registered as a surname only after the bearers immigrated to the United States. Additionally, the German version of the name is a variant of Georg. In Native American contexts, for example, among the Navajo, the English personal name George has been adopted as a surname, showcasing its broad cultural reach.

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


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Where is the George family from?

You can see how George families moved over time by selecting different census years. The George family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most George families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 223 George families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 16% of all the recorded George's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of George families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the George surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your George ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named George. 16% of George men worked as a Laborer and 6% of George women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named George were Truck Driver and Teacher.

View Census Data for George | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    16%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Maid
    6%
  • Teacher
    5%

What George family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 929,000 census records available for the last name George. Like a window into their day-to-day life, George census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 144,000 immigration records available for the last name George. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 171,000 military records available for the last name George. For the veterans among your George ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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