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

Townshend Family History

Townshend Name Meaning

English (mainly Norfolk): variant of Townsend .

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


Similar surnames: Townsend, Townzen, Townsley, Bowsher, Towns, Hounshell, Townes

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 Townshend family from?

You can see how Townshend families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Townshend family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Townshend families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 6 Townshend families living in Maryland. This was about 46% of all the recorded Townshend's in USA. Maryland had the highest population of Townshend families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Townshend surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Townshend ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Townshend. 28% of Townshend men worked as a Farmer and 40% of Townshend women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Townshend were Salesman and Maid. .

View Census Data for Townshend | 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

  • Farmer
    28%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Clerk
    12%
  • Salesman
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    40%
  • Cook
    40%
  • Maid
    20%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Townshend family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Townshend. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Townshend census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Townshend

Passenger Lists

There are 21,000 immigration records available for the last name Townshend. 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 Townshend immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Townshend. For the veterans among your Townshend ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Townshend military records

You've only scratched the surface of Townshend family history

Discover More

What is the average Townshend lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Townshend life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Townshend in 1961 was 65, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Townshend

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Townshend family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Townshend last name

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