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Fabian Family History

Fabian Surname Meaning

English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian (Veneto), and Polish; Czech (mainly Fabián); Slovak (also Fábian Fabián); Hungarian (Fábián): from a personal name Latin Fabianus, a derivative of the Roman surname Fabius. The personal name achieved considerable popularity in Europe in the Middle Ages, having been borne by a 3rd-century pope and saint.

Compare Faubion. Americanized or Italianized form of Slovenian Fabjan or Slovenian and Croatian Fabijan: from the personal name Fab(i)jan Latin Fabianus (see above).

In North America, this surname may also be a shortened form of patronymics from this name, e.g., Slovenian Fabjančič, Croatian Fabijančić. See also Fabiani.

Jewish: adoption of the non-Jewish surname (see 1 above) under the influence of the Yiddish personal name Fayvish, ultimately related to Latin Vivus meaning ‘living’.

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


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Where is the Fabian family from?

You can see how Fabian families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fabian family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fabian families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 88 Fabian families living in London. This was about 38% of all the recorded Fabian's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fabian families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fabian 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 Fabian 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 Fabian. 34% of Fabian men worked as a General Labourer and 76% of Fabian women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fabian were Retired and Domestic.

View Census Data for Fabian | 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
    34%
  • None
    34%
  • Retired
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Domestic
    4%

What Fabian family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 32,000 census records available for the last name Fabian. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fabian census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fabian

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Fabian. 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 Fabian immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Fabian. For the veterans among your Fabian ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fabian military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fabian family history

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What is the average Fabian lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Fabian life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Fabian in 1946 was 46, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fabian

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fabian 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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