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Terry Family History

Terry Name 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

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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.

View Census Data for Terry

What did your Terry ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Terry | Data not to scale

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%

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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.
View all Terry immigration records
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.
View all Terry military records

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.

View all Terry immigration records

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.

View all Terry military records

You've only scratched the surface of Terry family history

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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

Browse profiles of historical people with the Terry last name