This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Dignan family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Dignan Family History

Dignan Surname Meaning

Irish (Leitrim and Roscommon): shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Duibhgeannáin (see Deignan).

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dignan family from?

You can see how Dignan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dignan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dignan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 55 Dignan families living in Lancashire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Dignan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Dignan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dignan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Dignan 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 Dignan. 25% of Dignan men worked as a General Labourer and 61% of Dignan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dignan were Plumber and Housewife.

View Census Data for Dignan | 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
    25%
  • Journeyman Cabinet Maker
    25%
  • Builders Labourer
    25%
  • Plumber
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    61%
  • Domestic Duties
    7%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Housewife
    5%

What Dignan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Dignan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dignan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dignan

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Dignan. 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 Dignan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Dignan. For the veterans among your Dignan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dignan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dignan family history

Discover More

What is the average Dignan lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Dignan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Dignan in 1953 was 49, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dignan

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial