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Caniff Family History

Caniff Surname Meaning

Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Conduibh (see Cunniff). This surname is now rare in Britain and Ireland.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Caniff family from?

You can see how Caniff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Caniff family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Caniff families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 11 Caniff families living in Glamorgan. This was about 44% of all the recorded Caniff's in United Kingdom. Glamorgan had the highest population of Caniff families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Caniff 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 Caniff ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Assorter were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Caniff. 19% of Caniff men worked as a Laborer and 20% of Caniff women worked as an Assorter. Some less common occupations for Americans named Caniff were Truck Driver and Waitress.

View Census Data for Caniff | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    19%
  • Foreman
    16%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Truck Driver
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Assorter
    20%
  • Stenographer
    20%
  • Operator
    20%
  • Waitress
    20%

What Caniff family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Caniff. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Caniff census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Caniff

Passenger Lists

There are 232 immigration records available for the last name Caniff. 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 Caniff immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Caniff military records

You've only scratched the surface of Caniff family history

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What is the average Caniff lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2003, in the United States, Caniff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Caniff in 1964 was 79, and 76 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Caniff

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

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