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 Canavan family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Canavan Family History

Canavan Surname Meaning

Irish (Galway and Mayo; Wexford): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ceanndubháin ‘descendant of Ceanndubhán’ a byname meaning ‘little black-headed one’.

It is derived from ceann ‘head’ + dubh ‘black’ + the diminutive suffix -án.

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 Canavan family from?

You can see how Canavan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Canavan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Canavan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 156 Canavan families living in Lancashire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Canavan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Canavan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Canavan 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 Canavan 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 Canavan. 50% of Canavan men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Canavan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Canavan were General Labourer Heavy Worker and Housewife.

View Census Data for Canavan | 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
    50%
  • Builders Labourer
    20%
  • General Labourer Heavy Work
    10%
  • General Labourer Heavy Worker
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    6%
  • Domestic Servant
    5%
  • Housewife
    5%

What Canavan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Canavan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Canavan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Canavan

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Canavan. 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 Canavan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Canavan. For the veterans among your Canavan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Canavan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Canavan family history

Discover More

What is the average Canavan lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Canavan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Canavan in 1946 was 39, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Canavan

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

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