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Nance Family History

Nance Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Nantz. Cornish: habitational name from any of the places so-named in Lelant, Saint Clement, Illogan, or Saint Martin in Meneage.

The placenames derive from Middle Cornish nans ‘valley’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Nance family from?

You can see how Nance families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nance family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nance families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 56 Nance families living in Cornwall. This was about 24% of all the recorded Nance's in United Kingdom. Cornwall had the highest population of Nance families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nance 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 Nance ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Nance. 34% of Nance men worked as a Gardener and 93% of Nance women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nance were General Merchant and Bakers Confectioner.

View Census Data for Nance | 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

  • Gardener
    34%
  • Kitchen Porter
    34%
  • General Merchant
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    93%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Bakers Confectioner
    3%

What Nance family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Nance

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Nance. 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 Nance immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 18,000 military records available for the last name Nance. For the veterans among your Nance ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nance military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nance family history

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What is the average Nance lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Nance life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Nance in 1942 was 33, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nance

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nance 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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