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Raven Family History

Raven Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Raven (Old Norse Hrafn Old English Hræfn both meaning ‘raven’) or else a nickname from this word probably denoting a dark-haired man.

English: occasionally perhaps also a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn distinguished by the sign of a raven (see 1 above).

Surnames derived from house and inn signs are rare in English.

North German and Dutch: from Middle Low German rave(n) ‘raven’ a nickname or an old personal name.

Compare 1 above.

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 Raven family from?

You can see how Raven families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Raven family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Raven families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 479 Raven families living in Essex. This was about 21% of all the recorded Raven's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Raven families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Raven 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 Raven ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Raven. 9% of Raven men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Raven women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Raven were Retired and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Raven | 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

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Gardener
    4%
  • Retired
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Raven family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 62,000 census records available for the last name Raven. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Raven census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Raven

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Raven. 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 Raven immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Raven. For the veterans among your Raven ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Raven military records

You've only scratched the surface of Raven family history

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What is the average Raven lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Raven life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Raven in 1953 was 41, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Raven

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Raven 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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