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Cavnaugh Family History

Cavnaugh Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Cavanaugh, Cavenaugh, Carbaugh, Cavanagh, Kavanaugh, Cobaugh

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cavnaugh family from?

You can see how Cavnaugh families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cavnaugh family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Cavnaugh families were found in USA in 1880. In 1851 there was 1 Cavnaugh family living in Angus. This was about 50% of all the recorded Cavnaugh's in Scotland. Angus and 1 other county had the highest population of Cavnaugh families in 1851.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cavnaugh surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1851
  • 1871
  • 1901
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What did your Cavnaugh ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Cavnaugh. 75% of Cavnaugh men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Cavnaugh women worked as an Operator.

View Census Data for Cavnaugh | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    75%
  • Laborer
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Operator
    100%

What Cavnaugh family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Cavnaugh. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cavnaugh census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cavnaugh

Passenger Lists

There are 62 immigration records available for the last name Cavnaugh. 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 Cavnaugh immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 91 military records available for the last name Cavnaugh. For the veterans among your Cavnaugh ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cavnaugh military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cavnaugh family history

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What is the average Cavnaugh lifespan?

Between 1970 and 2000, in the United States, Cavnaugh life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1986, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Cavnaugh in 1970 was 84, and 77 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cavnaugh

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cavnaugh 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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