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Kernighan Family History

Kernighan 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: Kernaghan, Jernigan, Kerrigan, Berrigan, Merrigan, Meighan, Heneghan

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kernighan family from?

You can see how Kernighan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kernighan family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Kernighan families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1851 there were 4 Kernighan families living in Renfrewshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Kernighan's in Scotland. Renfrewshire had the highest population of Kernighan families in 1851.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kernighan 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 Kernighan ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Kernighan. 100% of Kernighan men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Kernighan | 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.

Canada shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    100%

What Kernighan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 466 census records available for the last name Kernighan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kernighan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kernighan

Passenger Lists

There are 191 immigration records available for the last name Kernighan. 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 Kernighan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 30 military records available for the last name Kernighan. For the veterans among your Kernighan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kernighan military records

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What is the average Kernighan lifespan?

Between 1973 and 1983, in the United States, Kernighan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Kernighan in 1973 was 81, and 91 in 1983.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kernighan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kernighan 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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