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Terry Family History

Terry Surname Meaning

English and Irish: from the Norman personal name T(h)erry (Old French Thierri) a short form of Theodoric which is composed of the ancient Germanic elements theud ‘people race’ + rīc ‘power(ful) rich’. Theodoric was the name of the Ostrogothic leader (c. 454–526) who invaded Italy in 488 and established his capital at Ravenna in 49 His name was sometimes taken as a derivative of Greek Theodōros (see Theodore ). An Anglo-Norman family of this name has been in County Cork Ireland since the 13th century. Irish: sometimes an Anglicized (‘translated’) form of Gaelic Mac Toirdhealbhaigh (see Turley ).

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


Similar surnames: Merry, Berry, Ferry, Derry, Troy, Perry, Werry, Terra, Jerry, Torr

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 Terry family from?

You can see how Terry families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Terry family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Terry families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 293 Terry families living in New York. This was about 29% of all the recorded Terry's in USA. New York had the highest population of Terry families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Terry 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 Terry ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Terry. 19% of Terry men worked as a Laborer and 8% of Terry women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Terry were Truck Driver and Cook. .

View Census Data for Terry | 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
    17%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    8%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Cook
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Terry family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 465,000 census records available for the last name Terry. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Terry census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Terry

Passenger Lists

There are 33,000 immigration records available for the last name Terry. 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 91,000 military records available for the last name Terry. For the veterans among your Terry ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Terry lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Terry life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Terry in 1940 was 40, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Terry

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