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Palmer Family History

Palmer Surname Meaning

English: nickname from Middle English palmer(e) ‘palmer pilgrim to the Holy Land’ (Anglo-Norman French palmer Old French pa(l)mer paum(i)er) so called from the palm branch carried by such pilgrims. The term was also used to denote an itinerant monk who traveled from shrine to shrine under a vow of poverty. This surname is also common in Ireland where it has been recorded from the 13th century onward. Irish: when not of English origin (see 1 above) a surname adopted for Gaelic Ó Maolfhoghmhair (see Milford ) the name of an ecclesiastical family. Swedish (mainly Palmér): ornamental name formed with palm ‘palm tree’ + the suffix -ér (a derivative of Latin -erius) or -er (from German). German: topographic name for someone living among pussy willows (see Palm ). German: from the personal name Palm (see Palm ).

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


Similar surnames: Palm, Balmer, Almer, Paley, Hammer, Galler, Kalmer, Hamer, Palmero

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Palmer family from?

You can see how Palmer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Palmer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Palmer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 1,031 Palmer families living in New York. This was about 34% of all the recorded Palmer's in USA. New York had the highest population of Palmer families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Palmer 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 Palmer ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Palmer. 15% of Palmer men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Palmer women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Palmer were Truck Driver and Maid. .

View Census Data for Palmer | 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
    15%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    7%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Maid
    6%
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What Palmer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Palmer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Palmer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 145,000 immigration records available for the last name Palmer. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 208,000 military records available for the last name Palmer. For the veterans among your Palmer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Palmer lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Palmer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Palmer in 1940 was 39, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Palmer

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