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Bruce Family History

Bruce Name Meaning

Scottish and English (of Norman origin): habitational name from a place in Normandy which has not been certainly identified. Traditionally, it is believed to be derived from Brix near Cherbourg, but Le Brus in Calvados and Briouze in Orne have also been proposed as candidates.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Brice, Brune, Bruse, Bruck, Brue, Brace, Cruce, Bryce, Baune, Brule

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 Bruce family from?

You can see how Bruce families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bruce family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bruce families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 106 Bruce families living in New York. This was about 13% of all the recorded Bruce's in USA. New York had the highest population of Bruce families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bruce surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Bruce ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bruce. 16% of Bruce men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Bruce women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bruce were Truck Driver and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Bruce | 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
    16%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    7%
  • Maid
    7%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Bruce family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 526,000 census records available for the last name Bruce. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bruce census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Bruce

Passenger Lists

There are 65,000 immigration records available for the last name Bruce. 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 Bruce immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 80,000 military records available for the last name Bruce. For the veterans among your Bruce ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Bruce family history

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What is the average Bruce lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Bruce life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Bruce in 1941 was 28, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bruce

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