History of your Surname
Get access to Adrian family records.Start a free trial

Adrian Family History

Adrian Name Meaning

English, southern French, and German: from a vernacular form of the Latin personal name (H)adrianus, originally an ethnic name denoting someone from the coast of the Adriatic (Latin Adria). It was adopted as a cognomen by the emperor who ruled ad 117–138. It was also borne by several minor saints, in particular an early martyr at Nicomedia (died c.304), the patron saint of soldiers and butchers. There was an English St. Adrian (died 710), born in North Africa; he was abbot of St. Augustine’s, Canterbury, and his cult enjoyed a brief vogue after the discovery of his supposed remains in 1091. Later, the name was adopted by several popes, including the only pope of English birth, Nicholas Breakspear, who reigned as Adrian IV (1154–59).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Adrien, German, Adriano, Allman, Marian, Gurian, Ashman, Brian

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Adrian family from?

You can see how Adrian families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Adrian family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Adrian families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 12 Adrian families living in Quebec. This was about 35% of all the recorded Adrian's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Adrian families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Adrian surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Adrian ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Adrian. 80% of Adrian men worked as a Farmer. .

View Census Data for Adrian | 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 1921

  • Farmer
    80%
  • Teamster
    12%
  • Laborer
    8%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Adrian family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 31,000 census records available for the last name Adrian. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Adrian census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Adrian

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Adrian. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Adrian immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Adrian. For the veterans among your Adrian ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Adrian military records

You've only scratched the surface of Adrian family history

Discover More

What is the average Adrian lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Adrian life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Adrian in 1943 was 43, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Adrian

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Adrian family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Adrian last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial