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Gary Family History

Gary Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): variant of Geary.

Irish: shortened form of McGarry from Mac Fhearadhaigh.

French: variant or diminutive of Garin.

In some cases possibly also an Americanized form of Swiss German Gehri or Gehry variants of Gehr.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gary family from?

You can see how Gary families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gary family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gary families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 31 Gary families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Gary's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gary families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gary 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 Gary ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer Heavy Worker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gary. 43% of Gary men worked as a Builders Labourer Heavy Worker and 77% of Gary women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gary were General Labourer and Household Duties (unpaid).

View Census Data for Gary | 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 Heavy Worker
    43%
  • Compositor (letterpress)
    29%
  • General Labourer
    29%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Household Duties
    5%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    3%

What Gary family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 87,000 census records available for the last name Gary. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gary census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gary

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Gary. 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 Gary immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 27,000 military records available for the last name Gary. For the veterans among your Gary ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gary military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gary family history

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What is the average Gary lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Gary life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Gary in 1941 was 32, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gary

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gary 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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