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Columbus Family History

Columbus Name Meaning

Altered form of French Coulombe itself a variant of Colombe .

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


Similar surnames: Columbia, Combes, Cumby, Coombe, Cadmus, Kolbus, Columbo, Colombe

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Columbus family from?

You can see how Columbus families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Columbus family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Columbus families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 52 Columbus families living in Ontario. This was about 75% of all the recorded Columbus's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Columbus families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Columbus surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Columbus ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Income were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Columbus. 85% of Columbus men worked as a Farmer and 60% of Columbus women worked as an Income. Some less common occupations for Americans named Columbus were Clerk and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Columbus | 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
    85%
  • Clerk
    16%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Income
    60%
  • Stenographer
    40%
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What Columbus family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Columbus. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Columbus census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Columbus

Passenger Lists

There are 896 immigration records available for the last name Columbus. 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 Columbus immigration records

Draft Cards

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

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You've only scratched the surface of Columbus family history

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What is the average Columbus lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Columbus life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Columbus in 1952 was 49, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Columbus

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