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Vanfossen Family History

Vanfossen 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: Van Fossen, Van Essen, Van Fossan, Van Osten, Van Dusen, Fossen

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Vanfossen family from?

You can see how Vanfossen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Vanfossen family name was found in the USA between 1840 and 1920. The most Vanfossen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 20 Vanfossen families living in Ohio. This was about 51% of all the recorded Vanfossen's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Vanfossen families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Vanfossen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Vanfossen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Vanfossen. 31% of Vanfossen men worked as a Farmer and 31% of Vanfossen women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Vanfossen were Truck Driver and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Vanfossen | 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

  • Farmer
    31%
  • Laborer
    22%
  • Farm Laborer
    9%
  • Truck Driver
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    31%
  • Housekeeper
    24%
  • Operator
    16%
  • Stenographer
    16%

What Vanfossen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Vanfossen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Vanfossen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Vanfossen

Passenger Lists

There are 52 immigration records available for the last name Vanfossen. 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 Vanfossen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Vanfossen. For the veterans among your Vanfossen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Vanfossen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Vanfossen family history

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What is the average Vanfossen lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Vanfossen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Vanfossen in 1950 was 24, and 66 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Vanfossen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Vanfossen 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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