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Dekalb Family History

Dekalb Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: De Kalb, Kalb, De Alba, Pekala, Deal, Dewald, Devall, Dealy, Dekle

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dekalb family from?

You can see how Dekalb families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dekalb family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Dekalb families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 2 Dekalb families living in Ontario. This was about 67% of all the recorded Dekalb's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Dekalb families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dekalb 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 Dekalb ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Dekalb. 30% of Dekalb men worked as a Farmer and 25% of Dekalb women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dekalb were Laborer and House Keeper.

View Census Data for Dekalb | 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

  • Farmer
    30%
  • Salesman
    18%
  • Truck Driver
    18%
  • Laborer
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    25%
  • New Worker
    25%
  • Maid
    25%
  • House Keeper
    25%

What Dekalb family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Dekalb. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dekalb census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dekalb

Passenger Lists

There are 100 immigration records available for the last name Dekalb. 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 Dekalb immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 756 military records available for the last name Dekalb. For the veterans among your Dekalb ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dekalb military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dekalb family history

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What is the average Dekalb lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Dekalb life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1966, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Dekalb in 1961 was 67, and 60 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dekalb

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dekalb 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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