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Pettiford Family History

Pettiford Name Meaning

English (of Norman origin): nickname from Old French pied de fer ‘iron foot’ given perhaps to someone with an artificial foot or leg or to a tireless walker or messenger.

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


Similar surnames: Pettigrew, Pafford, Padelford, Reliford, Pettibone, Pettijohn

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Where is the Pettiford family from?

You can see how Pettiford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pettiford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pettiford families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 21 Pettiford families living in North Carolina. This was about 88% of all the recorded Pettiford's in USA. North Carolina had the highest population of Pettiford families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pettiford surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Pettiford ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pettiford. 34% of Pettiford men worked as a Laborer and 22% of Pettiford women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pettiford were New Worker and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Pettiford | 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
    34%
  • Farmer
    24%
  • Janitor
    6%
  • New Worker
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    22%
  • Cook
    12%
  • Servant
    9%
  • Housekeeper
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Pettiford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Pettiford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pettiford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Pettiford

Passenger Lists

There are 240 immigration records available for the last name Pettiford. 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 1,000 military records available for the last name Pettiford. For the veterans among your Pettiford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Pettiford lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Pettiford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Pettiford in 1943 was 55, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pettiford

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