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Gavan Family History

Gavan Surname Meaning

Scottish and English (Lancashire): variant of Gavin.

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 Gavan family from?

You can see how Gavan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gavan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gavan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 83 Gavan families living in Lancashire. This was about 41% of all the recorded Gavan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Gavan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gavan 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 Gavan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Retired and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gavan. 25% of Gavan men worked as a Retired and 80% of Gavan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gavan were Lathe Hand On Munitions and Housewife.

View Census Data for Gavan | 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

  • Retired
    25%
  • General Labourer
    25%
  • Automatic Toolsetter
    25%
  • Lathe Hand On Munitions
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Housewife
    5%

What Gavan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Gavan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gavan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gavan

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Gavan. 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 Gavan immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Gavan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gavan family history

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What is the average Gavan lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Gavan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Gavan in 1962 was 68, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gavan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gavan 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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