History of your Surname
Get access to Giffen family records.Start a free trial

Giffen Family History

Giffen Name Meaning

Irish (Antrim): from Mag Dhuibhfinn see McGaffin . English and Scottish: variant of Geffen .

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


Similar surnames: Griffen, Giffin, Goffe, Gillen, Girten, Diffee, Tiffin, Diffin

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Giffen family from?

You can see how Giffen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Giffen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Giffen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 51 Giffen families living in London. This was about 34% of all the recorded Giffen's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Giffen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Giffen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Giffen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Press Photographer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Giffen. 50% of Giffen men worked as a Press Photographer and 69% of Giffen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Giffen were Gardener and Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Giffen | 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

  • Press Photographer
    50%
  • Gardener
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Shorthand Typist
    8%
  • Private Means
    8%
  • Domestic Duties
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Giffen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Giffen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Giffen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Giffen

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Giffen. 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.

View all Giffen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Giffen. For the veterans among your Giffen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Giffen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Giffen family history

Discover More

What is the average Giffen lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Giffen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Giffen in 1952 was 49, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Giffen

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Giffen family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Giffen last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial