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Balfe Family History

Balfe Surname Meaning

Irish (of Norman origin): Anglicized form of Gaelic Balbh meaning ‘stammering dumb’ itself probably a translation of a Norman surname of similar meaning.

Ultimately derived from Latin balbus ‘stammering’.

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 Balfe family from?

You can see how Balfe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Balfe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Balfe families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 34 Balfe families living in Lancashire. This was about 54% of all the recorded Balfe's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Balfe families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Balfe 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 Balfe 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 Balfe. 50% of Balfe men worked as a General Labourer and 88% of Balfe women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Balfe were Woolen Weaver and None.

View Census Data for Balfe | 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
    50%
  • Retired
    25%
  • Woolen Weaver
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    88%
  • None
    13%

What Balfe family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Balfe

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Balfe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Balfe family history

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What is the average Balfe lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Balfe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Balfe in 1953 was 45, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Balfe

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

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