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Ferdinand Family History

Ferdinand Surname Meaning

German French English and West Indian (mainly Haiti): from an ancient Visigothic personal name composed of the elements farthu ‘journey expedition’ (or a metathesized form of frithu ‘peace’) + nanths ‘daring brave’. As a surname this is of comparatively recent origin in German-speaking countries and in France for the personal name was not introduced from Spain (see Fernando) until the late 15th century.

It was brought to Austria by the Habsburg dynasty among whom it was a hereditary name and from Austria it spread to France. Iberian cognates are of more ancient origin and more frequently found today since the name was much favored in the royal house of Castile.

It owes its popularity in large part to King Ferdinand III of Castile and León (1198–1252) who recaptured large areas of Spain from the Moors and was later canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Ferdinand family from?

You can see how Ferdinand families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ferdinand family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ferdinand families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 72 Ferdinand families living in London. This was about 63% of all the recorded Ferdinand's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Ferdinand families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ferdinand 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 Ferdinand ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer Heavy Works and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Ferdinand. 25% of Ferdinand men worked as a Bricklayer Heavy Works and 87% of Ferdinand women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ferdinand were Butcher and Unpd Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Ferdinand | 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

  • Bricklayer Heavy Works
    25%
  • Builders Labourer
    25%
  • Railway Clerk
    25%
  • Butcher
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    87%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Domestic Servant
    5%
  • Unpd Domestic Duties
    5%

What Ferdinand family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Ferdinand. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ferdinand census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ferdinand

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Ferdinand military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ferdinand family history

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What is the average Ferdinand lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Ferdinand life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Ferdinand in 1950 was 25, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ferdinand

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ferdinand 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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