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Canby Family History

Canby Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): probably a habitational name from Caenby in Lincolnshire named with the Old Norse personal name Ka The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names of Ireland, 2021 + bȳ ‘farmstead’.

However it may also be a shortened form of a habitational name from Cross Canonby (Cumbria) or Carnaby (East Yorkshire).

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 Canby family from?

You can see how Canby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Canby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Canby families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 36 Canby families living in London. This was about 22% of all the recorded Canby's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Canby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Canby 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 Canby ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Postman and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Canby. 50% of Canby men worked as a Postman and 83% of Canby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Canby were Aircraft Fitter and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Canby | 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

  • Postman
    50%
  • Aircraft Fitter
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Tobacco fancy Goods Dealer
    6%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Household Duties
    6%

What Canby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Canby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Canby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Canby

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Canby. For the veterans among your Canby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Canby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Canby family history

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What is the average Canby lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Canby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Canby in 1944 was 49, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Canby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Canby 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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