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Geng Family History

Geng Surname Meaning

South German: nickname for a fit vigorous person from Middle High German genge.

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 耿 meaning ‘bright’ or ‘upright’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Geng (邢 sharing the same pronunciation with 耿 in ancient Chinese) the name of one of the capital cities (in present-day Wenxian in Henan province) during the reign of Zu Yi the 14th king in the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). During the reign of Pan Geng the 20th king in the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC) the capital was moved to Bo (in present-day Shanqiu in Henan province).

The nobles who still resided in the original capital adopted Geng (耿) as their surname. (ii) from Geng (耿) the name of a state (located in present-day Hejin in Shanxi province) during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC) which was annexed by the state of Jin.

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


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Where is the Geng family from?

You can see how Geng families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Geng family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Geng families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 8 Geng families living in Dorset. This was about 67% of all the recorded Geng's in United Kingdom. Dorset had the highest population of Geng families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Geng 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 Geng ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Secretary were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Geng. 32% of Geng men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Geng women worked as a Secretary. Some less common occupations for Americans named Geng were Machinist and Clerk.

View Census Data for Geng | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    32%
  • Salesman
    22%
  • Manager
    16%
  • Machinist
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Secretary
    50%
  • Clerk
    50%

What Geng family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Geng. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Geng census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Geng

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Geng military records

You've only scratched the surface of Geng family history

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What is the average Geng lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Geng life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1992, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Geng in 1963 was 59, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Geng

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Geng 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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