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Colburn Family History

Colburn Name Meaning

English:: habitational name usually from Colburn in Catterick (North Yorkshire) named from Old English cōl ‘cool’ or col ‘coal’+ burna ‘stream’ (often confused with Old Norse brunnr ‘spring stream’) but sometimes perhaps from a minor place so named such as Coalburn in South Wingfield (Derbyshire) or Coldbourne in Bramley (Surrey). from the Middle English personal name Colborn an Anglicized form of Old Norse Kolbiǫrn Kolbiorn from kol ‘coal’ + biǫrn ‘bear’. variant of Colbran from the Middle English personal name Colbrand (Old Norse Kolbrandr Kolbrand from kol ‘coal’ + brandr ‘sword-blade firebrand’). variant of Cowburn a habitational name from Cowburn in Kirkham (Lancashire).

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

Similar surnames: Kilburn, Cliburn, Milburn, Cockburn, Colmer, Chadburn, Cobern

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Where is the Colburn family from?

You can see how Colburn families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Colburn family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Colburn families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 85 Colburn families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 65% of all the recorded Colburn's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Colburn families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Colburn surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Colburn

What Colburn family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 57,000 census records available for the last name Colburn. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Colburn census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Colburn
Passenger Lists
There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Colburn. 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 Colburn immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Colburn. For the veterans among your Colburn ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Colburn military records

Census Records

There are 57,000 census records available for the last name Colburn. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Colburn census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Colburn

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Colburn. 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 Colburn immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Colburn. For the veterans among your Colburn ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Colburn military records

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What is the average Colburn lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Colburn life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Colburn in 1950 was 58, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Colburn

Browse profiles of historical people with the Colburn last name

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