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Digby Family History

Digby Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Digby in Lincolnshire named from Old English dīc or Old Norse dík ‘dike ditch’.

It signifies a location that is likely characterized by a dike or ditch, emphasizing its importance in the landscape.

The second part of the name, býr, means ‘farm settlement’, further illustrating the agricultural roots of the area.

This suggests that Digby was not only a geographical feature but also a significant settlement for farming communities.

Overall, the name reflects historical practices and the environment of Lincolnshire during the time of its naming.

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


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Where is the Digby family from?

You can see how Digby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Digby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Digby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 431 Digby families living in Essex. This was about 25% of all the recorded Digby's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Digby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Digby 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 Digby ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Digby. 9% of Digby men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Digby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Digby were Cowman and Housewife.

View Census Data for Digby | 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

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Farm Labourer
    5%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Cowman
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Digby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 43,000 census records available for the last name Digby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Digby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Digby

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Digby. 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 Digby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Digby. For the veterans among your Digby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Digby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Digby family history

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What is the average Digby lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Digby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Digby in 1952 was 54, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Digby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Digby 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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