This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Buchanan family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Buchanan Family History

Buchanan Surname Meaning

Scottish (western Scotland): habitational name from Buchanan in Stirlingshire perhaps named with Gaelic buth chanain ‘house of the canon’.

Irish: adopted for Ó Buadhachanáin see Bohannon.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Buchanan family from?

You can see how Buchanan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Buchanan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Buchanan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 368 Buchanan families living in Lancashire. This was about 25% of all the recorded Buchanan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Buchanan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Buchanan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Buchanan 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 Buchanan. 11% of Buchanan men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Buchanan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Buchanan were Commercial Traveller and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Buchanan | 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
    11%
  • Retired
    5%
  • Shepherd
    4%
  • Commercial Traveller
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Private Means
    8%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Buchanan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 375,000 census records available for the last name Buchanan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Buchanan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Buchanan

Passenger Lists

There are 59,000 immigration records available for the last name Buchanan. 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 Buchanan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 74,000 military records available for the last name Buchanan. For the veterans among your Buchanan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Buchanan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Buchanan family history

Discover More

What is the average Buchanan lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Buchanan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Buchanan in 1941 was 40, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Buchanan

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial