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Fahey Family History

Fahey Surname Meaning

Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fathaidh or Ó Fathaigh ‘descendant of Fathadh’ a personal name derived from fothadh ‘base foundation’.

This name is sometimes Anglicized as Green(e) as a result of erroneous association with faithche ‘lawn’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Fahey family from?

You can see how Fahey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fahey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fahey families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 83 Fahey families living in Lancashire. This was about 25% of all the recorded Fahey's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Fahey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fahey 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 Fahey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fahey. 37% of Fahey men worked as a General Labourer and 80% of Fahey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fahey were Coal Hewer Heavy Worker and Charwoman.

View Census Data for Fahey | 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

  • General Labourer
    37%
  • Builders Labourer
    14%
  • Colliery Hewer
    12%
  • Coal Hewer Heavy Worker
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Charwoman
    3%

What Fahey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 78,000 census records available for the last name Fahey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fahey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fahey

Passenger Lists

There are 14,000 immigration records available for the last name Fahey. 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 Fahey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Fahey. For the veterans among your Fahey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fahey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fahey family history

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What is the average Fahey lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Fahey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Fahey in 1950 was 40, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fahey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fahey 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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