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Vernon Family History

Vernon Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Vernon in Eure France named from the Gaulish element ver(n) ‘alder’ + the Gallo-Roman locative suffix -o (genitive -ōnis). French: habitational name from the same place as in 1 above or from any of several other places in France with the same name and etymology.

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


Similar surnames: Vernor, Verdon, Perron, Varon, Overton, Verona, Verran, Verdin

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Vernon family from?

You can see how Vernon families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Vernon family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Vernon families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 27 Vernon families living in Tennessee. This was about 14% of all the recorded Vernon's in USA. Tennessee had the highest population of Vernon families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Vernon surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Vernon ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Vernon. 19% of Vernon men worked as a Farmer and 8% of Vernon women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Vernon were Truck Driver and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Vernon | 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

  • Farmer
    19%
  • Laborer
    13%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    8%
  • Housewife
    8%
  • Stenographer
    7%
  • Teacher
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Vernon family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 208,000 census records available for the last name Vernon. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Vernon census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Vernon

Passenger Lists

There are 25,000 immigration records available for the last name Vernon. 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 Vernon immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 36,000 military records available for the last name Vernon. For the veterans among your Vernon 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 Vernon family history

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What is the average Vernon lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Vernon life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Vernon in 1943 was 36, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Vernon

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Vernon family tree

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