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Want Family History

Want Name Meaning

English: from Middle English wand want ‘mole’ (Old English wand) perhaps a nickname for a short-sighted person. Perhaps occasionally a nickname from Old French want ‘glove’ but this is much less likely. English: topographic name for someone who lived at a cross-road (from Middle English want ‘cross-roads’) a dialect form of Went . Dutch: metonymic occupational name for a glove maker from Middle Dutch wante ‘glove’.

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

Similar surnames: Wand, Wang, Wann, Went, Lant, Fant, Wint, Sant, Walt, Watt

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Where is the Want family from?

You can see how Want families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Want family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Want families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there was 1 Want family living in Georgia. This was about 25% of all the recorded Want's in USA. Georgia and 3 other states had the highest population of Want families in 1840.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Want surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Want

What did your Want ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Want | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations In 1940

Laborer
40%
Salesman
22%
Farmer
14%
Farm Laborer
9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

Stenographer
46%
Waitress
19%
Housewife
19%
Clerk
19%

Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Want family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Want. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Want census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search US census records for Want
Passenger Lists
There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Want. 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 Want immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Want. For the veterans among your Want ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Want military records

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Want. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Want census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Want

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Want. 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 Want immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Want. For the veterans among your Want ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Want military records

You've only scratched the surface of Want family history

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What is the average Want lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2003, in the United States, Want life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Want in 1964 was 77, and 83 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Want

Browse profiles of historical people with the Want last name