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Gavaghan Family History

Gavaghan Surname Meaning

Irish (Mayo): probably a shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Gáibhtheacháin ‘descendant of Gáibhtheachán’ see Gaughan.

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


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Where is the Gavaghan family from?

You can see how Gavaghan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gavaghan family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gavaghan families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 109 Gavaghan families living in Lancashire. This was about 63% of all the recorded Gavaghan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Gavaghan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gavaghan 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 Gavaghan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gavaghan. 56% of Gavaghan men worked as a General Labourer and 78% of Gavaghan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gavaghan were Builders Labourer and Household Duties (unpaid).

View Census Data for Gavaghan | 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

  • General Labourer
    56%
  • Builders Labourer
    45%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Rag Sorter
    4%
  • Household Duties
    4%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    4%

What Gavaghan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Gavaghan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gavaghan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gavaghan

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 653 military records available for the last name Gavaghan. For the veterans among your Gavaghan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gavaghan military records

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What is the average Gavaghan lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Gavaghan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Gavaghan in 1958 was 37, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gavaghan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gavaghan 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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