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Devon Family History

Devon Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from the name of the county of Devon which originates from an ancient British tribal name Latin Dumnonii perhaps meaning ‘worshipers of the god Dumnonos’.

Compare Devonshire.

Irish (County Louth): variant of Devine.

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 Devon family from?

You can see how Devon families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Devon family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Devon families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 109 Devon families living in Lancashire. This was about 30% of all the recorded Devon's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Devon families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Devon 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 Devon ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Devon. 28% of Devon men worked as a Builders Labourer and 85% of Devon women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Devon were Painter and Housewife.

View Census Data for Devon | 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

  • Builders Labourer
    28%
  • Wood Machinist
    19%
  • Locomotive Engineer
    19%
  • Painter
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Domestic Servant
    7%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Housewife
    4%

What Devon family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Devon. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Devon census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Devon

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Devon. For the veterans among your Devon ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Devon military records

You've only scratched the surface of Devon family history

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What is the average Devon lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Devon life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Devon in 1962 was 74, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Devon

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

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