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Origins of the Adams surname

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What does the name Adams mean?

The Adams surname is English and Scottish in origin and is found across Britain, where it appears in records as early as the 1300s (and has later spread across the English-speaking world). Adams is a patronymic surname, referring to those who are the son or descendant of Adam (a popular medieval name, particularly in the 1200s).

Alternative variations of the name Adams

Adams, Adam, MacAdam, Addams, Addam

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Where do most Adamses live?

In 1921, most Adamses lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Adamses

How common is your surname?

64th most common surname in the UK

We have 446,000 records for the Adams surname. The oldest one dates back to 1220.

Who were Adamses most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Adamses.

What are the most common Adams first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Adams family members

Common jobs for Adamses

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Adamses in 1921
Dressmaker

2,106

Laundress

1,421

Domestic Servant

1,235

General Servant Domestic

1,096

General Servant

881

Common Male occupations for Adamses in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

2,071

General Labourer

1,634

Carpenter

1,397

Coal Miner

1,317

Farm Labourer

1,122

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We found over 700,000 family trees with the Adams surname

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