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Govey Family History

Govey Surname Meaning

Probably from an unrecorded Middle English personal name Goffy or Govy, a pet form of Goff, itself a pet form of Godfrey. Compare Goffin and Govett.

Alternatively, perhaps a reduced form of the Dorset name Goves, from the Norman name (de) Goviz. This is apparently recorded as Gouyegh in 1381 in Poll Tax (Ashton in Winterborne, Dorset).

However, it might be a scribal misreading.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Govey family from?

You can see how Govey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Govey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Govey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 27 Govey families living in London. This was about 55% of all the recorded Govey's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Govey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Govey 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 Govey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Govey. 34% of Govey men worked as a Bricklayer and 93% of Govey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Govey were Veneer Jointer and Shorthand Typist.

View Census Data for Govey | 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

  • Bricklayer
    34%
  • Builders Labourer
    34%
  • Veneer Jointer
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    93%
  • Retired
    4%
  • Shorthand Typist
    4%

What Govey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Govey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Govey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Govey

Passenger Lists

There are 262 immigration records available for the last name Govey. 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 Govey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 262 military records available for the last name Govey. For the veterans among your Govey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Govey military records

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What is the average Govey lifespan?

Between 1969 and 2004, in the United States, Govey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Govey in 1969 was 68, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Govey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Govey 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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