History of your Surname
Get access to Green family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Green Family History

Green Surname Meaning

English: either a nickname for someone who was fond of dressing in this color (Old English grēne) or was young or immature or who had played the part of the ‘Green Man’ in the May Day celebrations or a topographic name for someone who lived near a village green (Middle English grene a transferred use of the color term). This is one of the most common and widespread of English surnames. In North America it has assimilated cognates from other languages notably German Grün (see Gruen ) and Dutch Groen ; compare 7 below. This surname is also very common among African Americans. English: alternatively from a Middle English personal name Grene. Irish: adopted for Ó hUainín ‘descendant of Uainín’ a personal name from a pet form of uaine ‘green’ see Honan . Irish: adopted for Ó Fathaidh or Ó Fathaigh through erroneous association with faithche ‘lawn’ see Fahey . German: habitational name from Green (Rhineland-Palatinate) or Greene (Lower Saxony) or a topographic name from Middle Low Saxon grēn ‘grain sand’ for someone living in a sandy place. Danish: habitational name from placenames beginning with Gre(e)n- like Greene Grenbole (compare 5 above).7: Americanized form of Jewish (Ashkenazic) Grün (see Gruen ) or Grin artificial names meaning ‘green’ in German and Yiddish respectively or a short form of any of numerous compound names with this element.

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


Similar surnames: Gruen, Greene, Groen, Grahn, Greven, Greek, Grein, Graven, Breen

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Green family from?

You can see how Green families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Green family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Green families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 1,332 Green families living in New York. This was about 22% of all the recorded Green's in USA. New York had the highest population of Green families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Green surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Green ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Green. 19% of Green men worked as a Laborer and 10% of Green women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Green were Truck Driver and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Green | 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
    19%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    10%
  • Cook
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Housewife
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Green family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3 million census records available for the last name Green. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Green census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Green

Passenger Lists

There are 297,000 immigration records available for the last name Green. 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 Green immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 494,000 military records available for the last name Green. For the veterans among your Green ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Green military records

You've only scratched the surface of Green family history

Discover More

What is the average Green lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Green life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Green in 1940 was 42, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Green

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Green family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Green last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial