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Gander Family History

Gander Name Meaning

English (Sussex): from Middle English gander Old English gand(r)a ‘gander male goose’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a keeper of geese or a nickname for someone supposedly resembling a gander in some way. South German and Swiss German: habitational name for someone from a place called with Middle High German gant ‘scree’ (Swiss German gand) or a topographic name for someone living by an area of scree. This surname (in any of the possible senses; see also below) is also found in France (mainly Alsace). North German: nickname for a vain or self-important man from ganter ‘male goose gander’. North German: perhaps also a habitational name from Gandern in Brandenburg.

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


Similar surnames: Ganter, Mander, Lander, Wander, Sander, Zander, Glander, Ganser

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Where is the Gander family from?

You can see how Gander families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gander family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gander families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 558 Gander families living in Sussex. This was about 56% of all the recorded Gander's in United Kingdom. Sussex had the highest population of Gander families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gander surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Gander ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gander. 14% of Gander men worked as a Bricklayer and 75% of Gander women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gander were Builders Labourer and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Gander | 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 1939

  • Bricklayer
    14%
  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Gardener
    11%
  • Builders Labourer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gander family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 30,000 census records available for the last name Gander. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gander census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gander

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Gander. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Gander. For the veterans among your Gander ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Gander lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Gander life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Gander in 1956 was 64, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gander

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