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Germain Family History

Germain Name Meaning

French and West Indian (mainly Haiti): from the French personal name Germain Latin Germanus. This was popular in France where it had been borne by a 5th-century Christian saint bishop of Auxerre. It derives from Latin germanus ‘brother cousin’ (originally an adjective meaning ‘of the same stock’ from Latin germen ‘bud shoot’) or alternatively from the ethnic name Germanus ‘German’. In the Italian the popularity of the equivalent personal name (see Germano ) has been enhanced by association with the meaning ‘brother (in God)’. This surname is most common in Haiti.

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


Similar surnames: German, Gorman, Berman, Perman, Fermin, Herman, Bermann, Jerman

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Where is the Germain family from?

You can see how Germain families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Germain family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Germain families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 1,583 Germain families living in Quebec. This was about 90% of all the recorded Germain's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Germain families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Germain 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 Germain ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Cultivateur and Journalier were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Germain. 30% of Germain men worked as a Cultivateur and 13% of Germain women worked as a Journalier. Some less common occupations for Americans named Germain were Fils De Cultivateur and Revenue. .

View Census Data for Germain | 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

  • Cultivateur
    30%
  • Journalier
    17%
  • Farmer
    9%
  • Fils De Cultivateur
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Journalier
    13%
  • Institutrice
    13%
  • Mnagre
    10%
  • Revenue
    8%
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What Germain family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 75,000 census records available for the last name Germain. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Germain census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Germain

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Germain. 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 Germain immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Germain. For the veterans among your Germain ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Germain military records

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What is the average Germain lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Germain life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Germain in 1942 was 41, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Germain

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