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Gaffey Family History

Gaffey Surname Meaning

Irish: shortened Anglicized form of McGaffey.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gaffey family from?

You can see how Gaffey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gaffey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gaffey families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 46 Gaffey families living in Lancashire. This was about 48% of all the recorded Gaffey's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Gaffey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gaffey 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 Gaffey 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 Gaffey. 25% of Gaffey men worked as a Builders Labourer and 84% of Gaffey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gaffey were Navy (heavy Worker and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Gaffey | 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
    25%
  • Gents Hairdresser
    25%
  • General Labourer
    25%
  • Navy (heavy Worker
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    84%
  • Confectioner jobaccount Shop Assistant
    8%
  • Domestic Servant
    8%

What Gaffey family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Gaffey

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Gaffey. For the veterans among your Gaffey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gaffey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gaffey family history

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What is the average Gaffey lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Gaffey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Gaffey in 1946 was 57, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gaffey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gaffey 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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