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Chavez Family History

Chavez Surname Meaning

Spanish (Chávez): variant of Chaves. This surname is also found among Native Americans (Pueblos) in NM. Compare Chevez.

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 Chavez family from?

You can see how Chavez families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Chavez family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Chavez families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 1,418 Chavez families living in New Mexico. This was about 77% of all the recorded Chavez's in USA. New Mexico had the highest population of Chavez families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Chavez 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 Chavez ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Chavez. 38% of Chavez men worked as a Laborer and 12% of Chavez women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Chavez were Labor and Housework.

View Census Data for Chavez | 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
    38%
  • Farmer
    11%
  • Farm Laborer
    5%
  • Labor
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    12%
  • Maid
    10%
  • Housewife
    9%
  • Housework
    9%

What Chavez family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 121,000 census records available for the last name Chavez. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Chavez census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Chavez

Passenger Lists

There are 42,000 immigration records available for the last name Chavez. 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 Chavez immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 21,000 military records available for the last name Chavez. For the veterans among your Chavez ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Chavez military records

You've only scratched the surface of Chavez family history

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What is the average Chavez lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Chavez life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Chavez in 1942 was 32, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Chavez

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

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