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Payes Family History

Payes Surname Meaning

Spanish (Payés): nickname from payés ‘peasant farmer’ from Catalan pagés.

This surname is most common in Guatemala and El Salvador.

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 Payes family from?

You can see how Payes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Payes family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Payes families were found in USA in 1920. In 1871 there were 5 Payes families living in Renfrewshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Payes's in Scotland. Renfrewshire had the highest population of Payes families in 1871.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Payes 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 Payes ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Payes. 40% of Payes men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Payes women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Payes were Farm Laborer and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Payes | 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

  • Laborer
    40%
  • Farmer
    27%
  • Waiter
    20%
  • Farm Laborer
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    50%
  • Stenographer
    50%

What Payes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 956 census records available for the last name Payes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Payes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Payes

Passenger Lists

There are 416 immigration records available for the last name Payes. 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 Payes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 108 military records available for the last name Payes. For the veterans among your Payes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Payes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Payes family history

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What is the average Payes lifespan?

Between 1967 and 2003, in the United States, Payes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1997, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Payes in 1967 was 78, and 87 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Payes

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

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