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Canterbury Family History

Canterbury Name Meaning

English (Dorset): habitational name from Canterbury in Kent named in Old English as Cantwaraburg ‘fortified town (burgh) of the people (wara) of Kent’.

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


Similar surnames: Waterbury, Norbury, Marbury, Winterburn, Hanbury, Astbury, Amesbury

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Canterbury family from?

You can see how Canterbury families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Canterbury family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Canterbury families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 33 Canterbury families living in Dorset. This was about 25% of all the recorded Canterbury's in United Kingdom. Dorset had the highest population of Canterbury families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Canterbury 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 Canterbury ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Canterbury. 94% of Canterbury women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Canterbury | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    94%
  • Housewife
    7%
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What Canterbury family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Canterbury. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Canterbury census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Canterbury

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Canterbury. 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 Canterbury immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Canterbury. For the veterans among your Canterbury ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Canterbury military records

You've only scratched the surface of Canterbury family history

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What is the average Canterbury lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Canterbury life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Canterbury in 1944 was 29, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Canterbury

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Canterbury family tree

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