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Vann Family History

Vann Surname Meaning

English (Leicestershire and Warwickshire): topographic name for someone who lived by a fen or marsh from Middle English fan(ne), a dialect variant in southeastern England of fen(ne) ‘marsh fen’ (see also Fenn).

The surname may also be topographic for someone who lived in a marshy place or from a place so named such as Vann in Hambledon (Surrey) and Vann in Ockley (Surrey).

Perhaps a nickname from Middle English fan(ne) vanne ‘basket or fan for winnowing’ for someone who made or used such a utensil.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Vann family from?

You can see how Vann families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Vann family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Vann families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 289 Vann families living in Leicestershire. This was about 35% of all the recorded Vann's in United Kingdom. Leicestershire had the highest population of Vann families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Vann 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 Vann 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 Vann. 19% of Vann men worked as a General Labourer and 76% of Vann women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Vann were Hosiery Trimmer and Retired.

View Census Data for Vann | 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
    19%
  • Grocers Assistant
    8%
  • Bricklayer
    8%
  • Hosiery Trimmer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Retired
    2%

What Vann family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 59,000 census records available for the last name Vann. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Vann census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Vann

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Vann. 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 Vann immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Vann. For the veterans among your Vann ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Vann military records

You've only scratched the surface of Vann family history

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What is the average Vann lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Vann life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Vann in 1943 was 36, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Vann

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Vann 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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