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Diego Family History

Diego Surname Meaning

Spanish: from the very common male personal name Diego which in the Spanish-speaking world is usually taken to be a shortened form of Santiago. However, this may be only a folk etymology.

The personal name is found in the Middle Ages in the Latin forms Didacus and Didagus probably a derivative of Greek didachē ‘doctrine, teaching’.

However, in view of the fact that this personal name is unknown outside the Iberian Peninsula, it may actually have a pre-Roman origin.

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 Diego family from?

You can see how Diego families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Diego family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Diego families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 6 Diego families living in Lancashire. This was 100% of all the recorded Diego's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Diego families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Diego 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 Diego ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and None were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Diego. 39% of Diego men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Diego women worked as a None. Some less common occupations for Americans named Diego were Cigar Maker and Cigar Maker.

View Census Data for Diego | 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
    39%
  • Farmer
    8%
  • Farm Laborer
    6%
  • Cigar Maker
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • None
    50%
  • New Worker
    34%
  • Cigar Maker
    17%

What Diego family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Diego. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Diego census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Diego

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Diego. 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 Diego immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Diego. For the veterans among your Diego ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Diego military records

You've only scratched the surface of Diego family history

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What is the average Diego lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Diego life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Diego in 1962 was 71, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Diego

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

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