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 Canham family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Canham Family History

Canham Surname Meaning

English (East Anglia): habitational name from a place in Suffolk called Cavenham (of which this is a shortened form) from the genitive case of an unattested Old English byname Cāfna (from cāf ‘bold active’).

Old English hām means ‘homestead’.

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 Canham family from?

You can see how Canham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Canham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Canham families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 338 Canham families living in Norfolk. This was about 21% of all the recorded Canham's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Canham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Canham 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 Canham 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 Canham. 9% of Canham men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Canham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Canham were Carpenter and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Canham | 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
    9%
  • Farm Labourer
    7%
  • Agricultural Labourer
    5%
  • Carpenter
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%

What Canham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 33,000 census records available for the last name Canham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Canham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Canham

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Canham. 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 Canham immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Canham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Canham family history

Discover More

What is the average Canham lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Canham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Canham in 1946 was 61, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Canham

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

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