Get access to Colvin family records.Start a free trial

Colvin Family History

Colvin Name Meaning

Scottish and Irish (Donegal Antrim): variant of Colville probably reflecting a local pronunciation. The name was taken to Ulster in the 17th century. Manx: if not identical with 1 perhaps from the Old Norse personal name Kolbeinn with /v/ substituted for /b/. English: from the rare Middle English personal name Colwin Colvin which may be a borrowing into English of a Welsh name whose modern form is Collwyn ‘white’ or of colwyn ‘doe puppy pet dog’ or of the placename Colwyn (Denbighshire Radnorshire).

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

Similar surnames: Collin, Corvin, Colin, Colan, Colding, Molin, Corwin, Calvin, Gelvin

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

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Colvin family from?

You can see how Colvin families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Colvin family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Colvin families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 85 Colvin families living in Ontario. This was about 55% of all the recorded Colvin's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Colvin families in 1911.

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

View Census Data for Colvin

What did your Colvin ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Colvin | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations In 1921

Farmer
42%
Salesman
10%
Farmers Son
6%
Blacksmith
6%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

Nurse
43%
Operator
29%
Housekeeper
29%

Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Colvin family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 104,000 census records available for the last name Colvin. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Colvin census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Colvin
Passenger Lists
There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Colvin. 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 Colvin immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 20,000 military records available for the last name Colvin. For the veterans among your Colvin ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Colvin military records

Census Records

There are 104,000 census records available for the last name Colvin. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Colvin census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Colvin

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Colvin. 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 Colvin immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 20,000 military records available for the last name Colvin. For the veterans among your Colvin ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Colvin military records

You've only scratched the surface of Colvin family history

Discover More

What is the average Colvin lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Colvin life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Colvin in 1950 was 54, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Colvin

Browse profiles of historical people with the Colvin last name