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Kolby Family History

Kolby Surname Meaning

Danish and Norwegian: habitational name from a Danish placename or a Norwegian farm name, a compound of kol (see Kolberg) and Old Norse býr ‘farm’.

Americanized form of German Kolbe.

Compare Colby.

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 Kolby family from?

You can see how Kolby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kolby family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Kolby families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 6 Kolby families living in Oxfordshire. This was about 67% of all the recorded Kolby's in United Kingdom. Oxfordshire had the highest population of Kolby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kolby 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 Kolby ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Waitress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kolby. 62% of Kolby men worked as a Laborer and 40% of Kolby women worked as a Waitress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kolby were Proprietor and Housewife.

View Census Data for Kolby | 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
    62%
  • Farmer
    24%
  • Proprietor
    16%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Waitress
    40%
  • Machine Operator
    20%
  • Stenographer
    20%
  • Housewife
    20%

What Kolby family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Kolby

Passenger Lists

There are 220 immigration records available for the last name Kolby. 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 Kolby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 315 military records available for the last name Kolby. For the veterans among your Kolby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kolby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kolby family history

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What is the average Kolby lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Kolby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Kolby in 1962 was 74, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kolby

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

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