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Harnois Family History

Harnois Surname Meaning

French: metonymic occupational name for a harness maker, saddler, or maker of armor from Old French harneis ‘equipment, accoutrements (of a soldier or horse)’.

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


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Where is the Harnois family from?

You can see how Harnois families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Harnois family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Harnois families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1891 there were 4 Harnois families living in Northamptonshire. This was about 31% of all the recorded Harnois's in United Kingdom. Northamptonshire had the highest population of Harnois families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Harnois 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 Harnois ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Harnois. 37% of Harnois men worked as a Laborer and 16% of Harnois women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Harnois were Bartender and Spinner.

View Census Data for Harnois | 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
    37%
  • Carpenter
    12%
  • Clerk
    10%
  • Bartender
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    16%
  • Yarn Inspec
    11%
  • New Worker
    11%
  • Spinner
    11%

What Harnois family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Harnois. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Harnois census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Harnois

Passenger Lists

There are 315 immigration records available for the last name Harnois. 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 Harnois immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 818 military records available for the last name Harnois. For the veterans among your Harnois ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Harnois military records

You've only scratched the surface of Harnois family history

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What is the average Harnois lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Harnois life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1964. The average life expectancy for Harnois in 1953 was 29, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Harnois

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Harnois 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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