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Duan Family History

Duan Surname Meaning

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 段 meaning ‘segment’ or ‘paragraph’ in Chinese: (i) from the personal name Duan (段) style name of Gong Shu Duan (共叔段) younger brother of Duke Zhuang of Zheng (ruler of the state of Zheng 757–701 BC) who later fled to the fief Gong due to his failure of a coup against his brother Duke Zhuang of Zheng. (ii) shortened form of the compound surname Duan-Gan (段干) traced back to Duan-Gan Mu (段干木) a person who lived in the state of Wei during the Warring States period (475–221 BC). (iii) from Duan (段) the name of a tribe from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China.

Mandarin form of the surname 端: (i) from Duan (端) the name of an ancient state (located in Shanxi province) which later became a fief in the state of Jin after its annihilation during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) shortened form of the compound Chinese surname Duan-Mu (端木) a surname traced back to Duan Mu Ci (端木赐) a student of Confucius (551–479 BC).

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


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Where is the Duan family from?

You can see how Duan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Duan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Duan families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1891 there were 7 Duan families living in London. This was about 41% of all the recorded Duan's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Duan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Duan 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 Duan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Duan. 84% of Duan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Duan | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    84%
  • Incapacitated
    9%
  • Hosiery Machinist
    9%

What Duan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Duan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Duan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Duan

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 465 military records available for the last name Duan. For the veterans among your Duan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Duan military records

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What is the average Duan lifespan?

Between 1971 and 2004, in the United States, Duan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Duan in 1971 was 49, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Duan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Duan 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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