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Gunby Family History

Gunby Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Gunby in East Yorkshire which is named from the Old Norse female personal name Gunnhildr + Old Norse bȳ ‘farmstead settlement’.

It could also be derived from Gunby Saint Nicholas or Gunby Saint Peter in Lincolnshire.

These locations are named from the Old Norse male personal name Gunni + bȳ ‘farmstead settlement’.

This highlights the rich blend of cultural influences in place naming across regions.

The etymology underscores the significance of personal names in the development of geographical identifiers.

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 Gunby family from?

You can see how Gunby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gunby family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Gunby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 95 Gunby families living in Leicestershire. This was about 35% of all the recorded Gunby's in United Kingdom. Leicestershire had the highest population of Gunby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gunby 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 Gunby ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gunby. 29% of Gunby men worked as a Builders Labourer and 83% of Gunby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gunby were Shoe Repairer and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Gunby | 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
    29%
  • Colliery Stoneworker (be (heavy Worker)
    15%
  • Furnaceman
    15%
  • Shoe Repairer
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Gunby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Gunby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gunby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gunby

Passenger Lists

There are 643 immigration records available for the last name Gunby. 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 Gunby immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Gunby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gunby family history

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What is the average Gunby lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Gunby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Gunby in 1960 was 71, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gunby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gunby 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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