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Govans Family History

Govans 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: Govan, Gowans, Givans, Goans, Ovens, Gans, Goman, Gowan, Omans, Gogan

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Govans family from?

You can see how Govans families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Govans family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Govans families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1841 there were 3 Govans families living in Lanarkshire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Govans's in Scotland. Lanarkshire had the highest population of Govans families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Govans surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1841
  • 1851
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1881
  • 1891
  • 1901
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What did your Govans ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Telephone Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Govans. 67% of Govans men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Govans women worked as a Telephone Operator.

View Census Data for Govans | 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
    67%
  • Clerk
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Telephone Operator
    100%

What Govans family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 363 census records available for the last name Govans. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Govans census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Govans

Passenger Lists

There are 84 immigration records available for the last name Govans. 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 Govans immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 51 military records available for the last name Govans. For the veterans among your Govans ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Govans military records

You've only scratched the surface of Govans family history

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What is the average Govans lifespan?

Between 1970 and 2002, in the United States, Govans life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2002, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for Govans in 1970 was 72, and 45 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Govans

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Govans 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 Govans family tree

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