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Cary Family History

Cary Surname Meaning

Irish (Donegal and Westmeath) and English: variant of Carey. French: variant of Carry

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cary family from?

You can see how Cary families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cary family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cary families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 227 Cary families living in London. This was about 26% of all the recorded Cary's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Cary families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cary 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 Cary ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Dairy Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cary. 18% of Cary men worked as a Dairy Farmer and 75% of Cary women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cary were Licensed Victualler and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Cary | 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

  • Dairy Farmer
    18%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Licensed Victualler
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%

What Cary family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 134,000 census records available for the last name Cary. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cary census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cary

Passenger Lists

There are 11,000 immigration records available for the last name Cary. 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 Cary immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 22,000 military records available for the last name Cary. For the veterans among your Cary ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cary military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cary family history

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What is the average Cary lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Cary life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Cary in 1944 was 46, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cary

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cary 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.

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