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Kairns Family History

Kairns 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: Kairis, Cairns, Keirns, Karns, Karas, Mains, Kirn, Warns, Karras

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kairns family from?

You can see how Kairns families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kairns family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kairns families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 3 Kairns families living in Cheshire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Kairns's in United Kingdom. Cheshire had the highest population of Kairns families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kairns 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 Kairns ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Miner was the top reported job for people in the USA named Kairns. 50% of Kairns men worked as a Miner.

View Census Data for Kairns | 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

  • Miner
    50%
  • Laborer
    50%

What Kairns family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Kairns. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kairns census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kairns

Passenger Lists

There are 130 immigration records available for the last name Kairns. 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 Kairns immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 144 military records available for the last name Kairns. For the veterans among your Kairns ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kairns military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kairns family history

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What is the average Kairns lifespan?

Between 1970 and 2001, in the United States, Kairns life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1979, and highest in 1974. The average life expectancy for Kairns in 1970 was 93, and 65 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kairns

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kairns 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 Kairns family tree

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