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Behn Family History

Behn Surname Meaning

German: from a short form of the personal name Bernhard.

In some cases, perhaps a variant of Bein from Middle Low German bēn ‘bone leg’, a nickname for someone with an irregularity.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Behn family from?

You can see how Behn families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Behn family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Behn families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 28 Behn families living in Lancashire. This was about 58% of all the recorded Behn's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Behn families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Behn 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 Behn ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Behn. 73% of Behn women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Behn | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Private Means
    10%
  • Invalid Aged
    10%
  • Bar Assistant
    10%

What Behn family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Behn. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Behn census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Behn

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Behn. 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 Behn immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Behn. For the veterans among your Behn ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Behn military records

You've only scratched the surface of Behn family history

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What is the average Behn lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Behn life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Behn in 1957 was 43, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Behn

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Behn 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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