This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Hunter family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Hunter Family History

Hunter Surname Meaning

Scottish and northern English: occupational name from Middle English hunter(e) ‘huntsman’ (see Hunt).

Irish (Antrim and Derry): adopted for Gaelic Ó Fiaich (see Fee) due to confusion with the word fiadhach ‘hunt’.

In some cases also an Americanized form (mistranslation into English; compare Chasse ) of French Canadian Chassé (see Chasse).

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Hunter family from?

You can see how Hunter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hunter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hunter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 334 Hunter families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 17% of all the recorded Hunter's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Hunter families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hunter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Hunter ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Hunter. 17% of Hunter men worked as a Laborer and 9% of Hunter women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hunter were Truck Driver and Teacher.

View Census Data for Hunter | 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
    17%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    9%
  • Cook
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Teacher
    5%

What Hunter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Hunter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hunter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Hunter

Passenger Lists

There are 163,000 immigration records available for the last name Hunter. 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.

View all Hunter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 194,000 military records available for the last name Hunter. For the veterans among your Hunter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hunter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hunter family history

Discover More

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Hunter family tree

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