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Hirai Family History

Hirai Surname Meaning

Japanese: written 平井 ‘placid well’. It is a habitational name from Hirai-mura in Settsu (now part of Hyōgo prefecture).

Families bearing this name descend variously from the Fujiwara, Taira, Minamoto, and other clans.

The name is also found in the Ryūkyū Islands.

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


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Where is the Hirai family from?

You can see how Hirai families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hirai family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1911 and 1920. The most Hirai families were found in USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 13 Hirai families living in California. This was about 23% of all the recorded Hirai's in USA. California and 1 other state had the highest population of Hirai families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hirai 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 Hirai ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Hirai. 28% of Hirai men worked as a Laborer and 30% of Hirai women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hirai were Carpenter and Farmer.

View Census Data for Hirai | 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
    28%
  • Gardener
    22%
  • Farmer
    17%
  • Carpenter
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    30%
  • Housekeeper
    15%
  • Waitress
    12%
  • Farmer
    12%

What Hirai family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 829 census records available for the last name Hirai. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hirai census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Hirai

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Hirai. 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 Hirai immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 489 military records available for the last name Hirai. For the veterans among your Hirai ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hirai military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hirai family history

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What is the average Hirai lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Hirai life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Hirai in 1959 was 44, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hirai

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Hirai 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Hirai family tree

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