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Potvin Family History

Potvin Surname Meaning

French Canadian: altered form of French Poitevin (see Poitevint). Compare Podvin 1 and Potwin.

In some cases possibly also French: variant (shortened form) of French Poitevin (see Poitevint compare 1 above).

In some cases possibly also French and Walloon: shortened form of Potdevin a metonymic occupational name for a wine merchant or a nickname for a wine drinker from pot de vin ‘wine jar’.

Compare Podvin

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


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Where is the Potvin family from?

You can see how Potvin families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Potvin family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Potvin families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1891 there were 4 Potvin families living in Gloucestershire. This was about 80% of all the recorded Potvin's in United Kingdom. Gloucestershire had the highest population of Potvin families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Potvin 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 Potvin ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Potvin. 21% of Potvin men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Potvin women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Potvin were Truck Driver and Bookkeeper.

View Census Data for Potvin | 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
    21%
  • Carpenter
    7%
  • Farmer
    7%
  • Truck Driver
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    18%
  • Teacher
    9%
  • Laborer
    7%
  • Bookkeeper
    7%

What Potvin family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 34,000 census records available for the last name Potvin. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Potvin census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Potvin

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Potvin. 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 Potvin immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Potvin. For the veterans among your Potvin ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Potvin military records

You've only scratched the surface of Potvin family history

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What is the average Potvin lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Potvin life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Potvin in 1947 was 44, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Potvin

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Potvin 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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