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Buchannan Family History

Buchannan Surname Meaning

Scottish: variant of Buchanan.

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 Buchannan family from?

You can see how Buchannan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Buchannan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Buchannan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 54 Buchannan families living in Lancashire. This was about 32% of all the recorded Buchannan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Buchannan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Buchannan 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 Buchannan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Lorry Driver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Buchannan. 50% of Buchannan men worked as a Lorry Driver and 79% of Buchannan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Buchannan were Solicitor and Private Means.

View Census Data for Buchannan | 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

  • Lorry Driver
    50%
  • Solicitor
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Private Means
    22%

What Buchannan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 21,000 census records available for the last name Buchannan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Buchannan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Buchannan

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Buchannan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Buchannan family history

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What is the average Buchannan lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Buchannan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Buchannan in 1963 was 78, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Buchannan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Buchannan 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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