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Fernandes Family History

Fernandes Surname Meaning

Portuguese and Galician: patronymic from the personal name Fernando. This is one of the most common surnames in Portugal. It is also found in Goa and elsewhere on the west coast of India having been taken there by Portuguese colonists.

Spanish: variant or altered form of Fernández (see Fernandez). Jewish (Sephardic): Portuguese surname (see 1 above) adopted at the moment of conversion to Roman Catholicism.

After the return to Judaism (generations later), some descendants retained the name their families used as Catholics.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Fernandes family from?

You can see how Fernandes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fernandes family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fernandes families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 9 Fernandes families living in Yorkshire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Fernandes's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Fernandes families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fernandes 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 Fernandes ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Seaman (goanese and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fernandes. 39% of Fernandes men worked as a Seaman (goanese and 76% of Fernandes women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fernandes were (goanese) Seaman and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Fernandes | 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

  • Seaman (goanese
    39%
  • Goanese Scaman Awaun Repatria
    15%
  • Seaman (goanese)
    15%
  • (goanese) Seaman
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Private Means
    8%
  • Typist Shorthand
    8%
  • Domestic Duties
    8%

What Fernandes family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Fernandes

Passenger Lists

There are 35,000 immigration records available for the last name Fernandes. 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 Fernandes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Fernandes. For the veterans among your Fernandes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fernandes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fernandes family history

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What is the average Fernandes lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Fernandes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Fernandes in 1945 was 32, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fernandes

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fernandes 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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