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Gaye Family History

Gaye Surname Meaning

English: variant of Gay. West African (mainly Senegal; also Gambia and Mauritania): name found among the Wolof Lebou and Tukulor peoples.

It could be derived from the root of the Wolof word gaynde ‘lion’.

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 Gaye family from?

You can see how Gaye families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gaye family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gaye families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 42 Gaye families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Gaye's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gaye families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gaye 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 Gaye 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 Gaye. 60% of Gaye men worked as a General Labourer and 81% of Gaye women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gaye were Bricklayer and Mechanical Rubber Factory Hand.

View Census Data for Gaye | 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
    60%
  • Bricklayer
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Private Means
    9%
  • Independent Means
    6%
  • Mechanical Rubber Factory Hand
    6%

What Gaye family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Gaye. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gaye census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gaye

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Gaye. 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 Gaye immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 657 military records available for the last name Gaye. For the veterans among your Gaye ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gaye military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gaye family history

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What is the average Gaye lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Gaye life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gaye in 1963 was 62, and 93 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gaye

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gaye 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gaye family tree

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