Finger Family History

Finger Surname Meaning

English, German, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle English, Middle High German, Yiddish finger, modern German Finger ‘finger’. It was probably applied as a nickname for a man who had some peculiarity of the fingers, such as possessing a supernumerary one or having lost one or more of them through injury.

Additionally, it could refer to someone who was small in stature. The name's origin reflects specific physical traits that might have been notable in individuals.

As a Jewish name, it can also be an artificial name, crafted rather than inherited or derived from familial lineage. This usage illustrates the adaptability of surnames within different cultures.

The nickname’s evolution over time showcases the intersection of language and identity, particularly in the Jewish community where names often carry significant meaning.

Overall, the name encapsulates a blend of personal characteristics and cultural history while highlighting the linguistic connections between English and German languages.

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

Similar surnames: Fringer, Finner, Singer, Ginger, Dinger, Ringer, Binger, Frager, Finer, Winger

169,000 record(s) for Finger

50K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
9K	Military Records
4K	Immigration Records
28K	Census and Voter Lists
76K	Member Trees

Where is the Finger family from?

You can see how Finger families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Finger family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Finger families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 13 Finger families living in New York. This was about 33% of all the recorded Finger's in USA. New York had the highest population of Finger families in 1840.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Finger surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Finger ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Finger. 14% of Finger men worked as a Farmer and 11% of Finger women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Finger were Clerk and Stenographer.

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

Farmer

14%

Laborer

11%

Salesman

9%

Clerk

6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

Teacher

11%

Housewife

10%

Clerk

7%

Stenographer

7%

What Finger family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 28K census records available for the last name Finger. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Finger census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Passenger List

There are 4K immigration records available for the last name Finger. 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.

Military Records

There are 9K military records available for the last name Finger. For the veterans among your Finger ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

What is the average Finger lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Finger life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Finger in 1944 was 25, and 77 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Finger ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.