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Harkens Family History

Harkens Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Harkins, Hargens, Harken, Harben, Harden, Haren, Harker, Harkness

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Harkens family from?

You can see how Harkens families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Harkens family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Harkens families were found in USA in 1880. In 1841 there were 2 Harkens families living in Lanarkshire. This was about 4% of all the recorded Harkens's in Scotland. Lanarkshire had the highest population of Harkens families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Harkens surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1841
  • 1851
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1881
  • 1891
  • 1901
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What did your Harkens ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Servant were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Harkens. 35% of Harkens men worked as a Laborer and 43% of Harkens women worked as a Servant. Some less common occupations for Americans named Harkens were Salesman and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Harkens | 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
    35%
  • Farmer
    27%
  • Clerk
    18%
  • Salesman
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Servant
    43%
  • Maid
    29%
  • Housekeeper
    29%

What Harkens family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Harkens

Passenger Lists

There are 152 immigration records available for the last name Harkens. 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 Harkens immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 127 military records available for the last name Harkens. For the veterans among your Harkens ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Harkens military records

You've only scratched the surface of Harkens family history

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What is the average Harkens lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2003, in the United States, Harkens life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 1967. The average life expectancy for Harkens in 1965 was 54, and 76 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Harkens

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Harkens 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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