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Nesmith Family History

Nesmith Name Meaning

English and Scottish (Glasgow): occupational name for a maker of knives from Middle English knif-smith ‘knife-smith cutler’ (Old English cnīf + smith). English: alternatively an occupational name connected with wheel making from Middle English nave-smith ‘nave-smith’ (Old English nafu nafa ‘nave the central part of a wheel’ + smith).

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


Similar surnames: Smith, Nesbitt, Shoesmith, Nessmith, Weith, Smitha, Nesbit, Fesmire

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Nesmith family from?

You can see how Nesmith families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nesmith family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nesmith families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 11 Nesmith families living in New Hampshire. This was about 20% of all the recorded Nesmith's in USA. New Hampshire had the highest population of Nesmith families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nesmith surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Nesmith ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Nesmith. 33% of Nesmith men worked as a Farmer and 21% of Nesmith women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nesmith were Operator and Farmer. .

View Census Data for Nesmith | 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
    33%
  • Laborer
    22%
  • Farm Laborer
    4%
  • Operator
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    21%
  • Housekeeper
    10%
  • Housewife
    10%
  • Farmer
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Nesmith family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Nesmith. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nesmith census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Nesmith

Passenger Lists

There are 948 immigration records available for the last name Nesmith. 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 Nesmith immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Nesmith. For the veterans among your Nesmith ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Nesmith lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Nesmith life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Nesmith in 1946 was 32, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nesmith

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