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Gerkens Family History

Gerkens 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: Gerken, Berkes, Perkes, Gerren, Mergens, Jergens, Perkins, Gerfen

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gerkens family from?

You can see how Gerkens families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gerkens family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Gerkens families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 6 Gerkens families living in Oxfordshire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Gerkens's in United Kingdom. Oxfordshire had the highest population of Gerkens families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gerkens 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 Gerkens ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Housekeeper was the top reported job for people in the USA named Gerkens. 50% of Gerkens women worked as a Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Gerkens | 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 Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    50%
  • Servant
    50%

What Gerkens family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 909 census records available for the last name Gerkens. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gerkens census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gerkens

Passenger Lists

There are 434 immigration records available for the last name Gerkens. 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 Gerkens immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 154 military records available for the last name Gerkens. For the veterans among your Gerkens ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gerkens military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gerkens family history

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What is the average Gerkens lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Gerkens life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1989, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Gerkens in 1964 was 75, and 86 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gerkens

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gerkens 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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