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Fords Family History

Fords Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Ford, Forde, Folds, Cords, Fors, Forys, Lords, Forss, Lord, Boris

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Fords family from?

You can see how Fords families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fords family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fords families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 3 Fords families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 30% of all the recorded Fords's in USA. Pennsylvania and 1 other state had the highest population of Fords families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fords surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Fords ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Fords. 58% of Fords men worked as a Laborer and 60% of Fords women worked as an Operator. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fords were Operator and Laborer. .

View Census Data for Fords | 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
    58%
  • Farmer
    24%
  • Mechanic
    12%
  • Operator
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Operator
    60%
  • Laborer
    40%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Fords family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Fords. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fords census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Fords

Passenger Lists

There are 317 immigration records available for the last name Fords. 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 Fords immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Fords military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fords family history

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What is the average Fords lifespan?

Between 1981 and 1987, in the United States, Fords life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1987, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for Fords in 1981 was 74, and 68 in 1987.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fords

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fords family tree

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