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Mercer Family History

Mercer Name Meaning

English and Catalan: occupational name for a merchant from Old French mercier merchier (see Mercier ). In Middle English the term was applied particularly to someone who dealt in textiles especially the more costly and luxurious fabrics such as silks satin and velvet.

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


Similar surnames: Mercier, Marler, Berner, Lerner, Melcer, Mencer, Merker, Merhar

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 Mercer family from?

You can see how Mercer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Mercer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Mercer families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,026 Mercer families living in Lancashire. This was about 41% of all the recorded Mercer's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Mercer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Mercer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Mercer ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Mercer. 8% of Mercer men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Mercer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Mercer were Bricklayer and Private Means. .

View Census Data for Mercer | 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 1939

  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Bricklayer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Cotton Weaver
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Mercer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 291,000 census records available for the last name Mercer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Mercer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Australian census records for Mercer

Passenger Lists

There are 31,000 immigration records available for the last name Mercer. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Australia, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Mercer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 42,000 military records available for the last name Mercer. For the veterans among your Mercer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Mercer military records

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What is the average Mercer lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Mercer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Mercer in 1940 was 34, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Mercer

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