Germain Family History

Germain Surname Meaning

French and West Indian (mainly Haiti): from the French personal name Germain Latin Germanus. This was popular in France where it had been borne by a 5th-century Christian saint bishop of Auxerre.

It derives from Latin germanus ‘brother cousin’ (originally an adjective meaning ‘of the same stock’ from Latin germen ‘bud shoot’) or alternatively from the ethnic name Germanus ‘German’.

In Italian, the popularity of the equivalent personal name (see Germano) has been enhanced by association with the meaning ‘brother (in God)’. This surname is most common in Haiti.

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

Similar surnames: German, Gorman, Berman, Perman, Fermin, Herman, Bermann, Jerman, Germann, Jermain

148K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
10K	Military Records
8K	Immigration Records
75K	Census and Voter Lists
151K	Member Trees

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Germain family from?

You can see how Germain families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Germain family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Germain families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1891 there were 94 Germain families living in London. This was about 37% of all the recorded Germain's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Germain families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Germain surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Germain

What did your Germain ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Coal miner and Unpaid domestic duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Germain. 50% of Germain men worked as a Coal miner and 80% of Germain women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Germain were House decorator and Insurance clerk.

View Census Data for Germain

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.

Coal miner

50%

House decorator

50%

Unpaid domestic duties

80%

Domestic duties

Incapacitated

Insurance clerk

What Germain family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 75K census records available for the last name Germain. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Germain census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Germain

Passenger List

There are 8K immigration records available for the last name Germain. 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 Germain immigration records

Military Records

There are 10K military records available for the last name Germain. For the veterans among your Germain ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Germain military records

You've only scratched the surface of Germain family history

Discover More

What is the average Germain lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Germain life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Germain in 1942 was 41, and 79 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Germain family tree

Explore Your Tree

Search for another surname

Germain Surname Meaning

French and West Indian (mainly Haiti): from the French personal name Germain Latin Germanus. This was popular in France where it had been borne by a 5th-century Christian saint bishop of Auxerre.

In Italian, the popularity of the equivalent personal name (see Germano) has been enhanced by association with the meaning ‘brother (in God)’. This surname is most common in Haiti.

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

Where is the Germain family from?

What did your Germain ancestors do for a living?

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.

Coal miner

50%

House decorator

50%

Unpaid domestic duties

80%

Domestic duties

Incapacitated

Insurance clerk

What Germain family records will you find?

What is the average Germain lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Germain life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Germain in 1942 was 41, and 79 in 2004.

Germain Family History

Germain Surname Meaning

394,000 record(s) for Germain

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Germain family from?

What did your Germain ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Germain family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Germain family history

What is the average Germain lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Germain family tree

Search for another surname

Germain Surname Meaning

394,000 record(s) for Germain

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Germain family from?

What did your Germain ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Germain family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Germain family history

What is the average Germain lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Germain family tree

Search for another surname