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Donavan Family History

Donavan Surname Meaning

Irish (Limerick Waterford and Cork): variant of Donovan.

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 Donavan family from?

You can see how Donavan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Donavan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Donavan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 93 Donavan families living in London. This was about 38% of all the recorded Donavan's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Donavan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Donavan 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 Donavan 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 Donavan. 46% of Donavan men worked as a Builders Labourer and 86% of Donavan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Donavan were Incapacitated and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Donavan | 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
    46%
  • Taxi Driver
    19%
  • Wharf Labourer
    19%
  • Incapacitated
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Waitress
    4%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

What Donavan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 38,000 census records available for the last name Donavan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Donavan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Donavan

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Donavan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Donavan family history

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What is the average Donavan lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Donavan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Donavan in 1954 was 44, and 93 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Donavan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Donavan 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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