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Buchananan Family History

Buchananan Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Buchannan, Buchanan, Buchannon, Buchmann, Buchanon, Bohannan, Buchan

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Buchananan family from?

You can see how Buchananan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Buchananan family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Buchananan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1861 there was 1 Buchananan family living in Fife. This was 100% of all the recorded Buchananan's in Scotland. Fife had the highest population of Buchananan families in 1861.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Buchananan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1891
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What Buchananan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 77 census records available for the last name Buchananan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Buchananan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Buchananan

Passenger Lists

There are 5 immigration records available for the last name Buchananan. 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 Buchananan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3 military records available for the last name Buchananan. For the veterans among your Buchananan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Buchananan military records

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What is the average Buchananan lifespan?

Average Buchananan life expectancy in 1997 was 58 years. This was lower than the general public life expectancy which was 74.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Buchananan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Buchananan 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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