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Kent Family History

Kent Surname Meaning

English and Irish: habitational name from the county of Kent. The surname is also established in Ireland where English bearers of this name settled in Meath in the 13th century.

The name has been Gaelicized as Ceannt.

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 Kent family from?

You can see how Kent families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kent family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kent families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 2,388 Kent families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Kent's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Kent families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kent 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 Kent ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kent. 8% of Kent men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Kent women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kent were Gardener and Private Means.

View Census Data for Kent | 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

  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Gardener
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Kent family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 496,000 census records available for the last name Kent. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kent census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kent

Passenger Lists

There are 47,000 immigration records available for the last name Kent. 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 Kent immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 72,000 military records available for the last name Kent. For the veterans among your Kent ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kent military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kent family history

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What is the average Kent lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Kent life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Kent in 1942 was 21, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kent

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

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