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Swiss Family History

Swiss Name Meaning

Americanized form of German Schweiss or Schweitz .

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


Similar surnames: Niss, Bliss, Wise, Sloss, Heiss, Weiss, Wiss, Kriss, Sis, Deiss

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 Swiss family from?

You can see how Swiss families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Swiss family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Swiss families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 2 Swiss families living in Massachusetts. This was about 40% of all the recorded Swiss's in USA. Massachusetts had the highest population of Swiss families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Swiss surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Swiss ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Office Work were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Swiss. 33% of Swiss men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Swiss women worked as an Office Work. Some less common occupations for Americans named Swiss were Carpenter and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Swiss | 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
    33%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Miner
    13%
  • Carpenter
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Office Work
    25%
  • Housewife
    25%
  • Clerk
    25%
  • Stenographer
    25%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Swiss family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Swiss. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Swiss census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Swiss

Passenger Lists

There are 805 immigration records available for the last name Swiss. 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 Swiss immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Swiss. For the veterans among your Swiss ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Swiss military records

You've only scratched the surface of Swiss family history

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What is the average Swiss lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Swiss life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1979. The average life expectancy for Swiss in 1954 was 42, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Swiss

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Swiss family tree

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