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Gans Family History

Gans Surname Meaning

German and Dutch:: from gans ‘goose’ hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who bred or tended geese or a nickname for someone who wobbled or behaved (foolishly) like a goose or a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a goose.

Nickname for a healthy or strong person from Middle Low German gans ‘whole complete healthy’.

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


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Where is the Gans family from?

You can see how Gans families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gans family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gans families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 13 Gans families living in London. This was about 54% of all the recorded Gans's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gans families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gans 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 Gans ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Gans. 34% of Gans women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Gans | 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
    34%
  • Domestic Service
    12%
  • No Occupation Referg
    12%
  • Private Means
    12%

What Gans family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 17,000 census records available for the last name Gans. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gans census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gans

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Gans. 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 Gans immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Gans military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gans family history

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What is the average Gans lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Gans life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Gans in 1949 was 38, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gans

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gans 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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