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Shai Family History

Shai Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Shi, Shan, Shah, Shaw, Shao, Hai, Shad, Sham, Sha, Chai

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Shai family from?

You can see how Shai families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shai family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Shai families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 12 Shai families living in Illinois. This was about 46% of all the recorded Shai's in USA. Illinois had the highest population of Shai families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shai 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 Shai ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Maid was the top reported job for people in the USA named Shai. 100% of Shai women worked as a Maid.

View Census Data for Shai | 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 Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    100%

What Shai family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 344 census records available for the last name Shai. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shai census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shai

Passenger Lists

There are 214 immigration records available for the last name Shai. 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 Shai immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 115 military records available for the last name Shai. For the veterans among your Shai ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shai military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shai family history

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What is the average Shai lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2003, in the United States, Shai life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1978. The average life expectancy for Shai in 1956 was 52, and 79 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shai

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

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