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Brenan Family History

Brenan Surname Meaning

Irish: variant of Brennan from Ó Branáin or Mac Branáin.

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 Brenan family from?

You can see how Brenan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Brenan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Brenan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 42 Brenan families living in Lancashire. This was about 29% of all the recorded Brenan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Brenan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Brenan 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 Brenan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Brenan. 50% of Brenan men worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties and 81% of Brenan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Brenan were Farm Labourer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Brenan | 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

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    50%
  • Farm Labourer
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Domestic Duties
    12%
  • Private Means
    8%

What Brenan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Brenan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Brenan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Brenan

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Brenan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Brenan family history

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What is the average Brenan lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Brenan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1967, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Brenan in 1961 was 57, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Brenan

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

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