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Delaware Family History

Delaware Name Meaning

English:: (of Norman origin): variant of Warr 1 with fused Old French preposition de and definite article la ‘from the’. possibly also a habitational name from a farm called Delaware in Brasted (Kent) said to be named with Old French de la ‘from the’ + Middle English ware ‘weir’ though this seems unlikely. The surname Delaware is virtually non-existing in Britain.

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


Similar surnames: Delamar, Clare, Dolbeare, Delamarter, Dewart, Delane, Delcambre

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Where is the Delaware family from?

You can see how Delaware families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Delaware family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Delaware families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 2 Delaware families living in British Columbia. This was about 40% of all the recorded Delaware's in Canada. British Columbia and 1 other province had the highest population of Delaware families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Delaware surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Delaware ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Delaware. 37% of Delaware men worked as a Laborer and 43% of Delaware women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Delaware were Janitor and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Delaware | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    37%
  • Truck Driver
    14%
  • Weaver
    14%
  • Janitor
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    43%
  • Housework
    15%
  • Waitress
    15%
  • Teacher
    15%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Delaware family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Delaware. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Delaware census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Delaware

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Delaware. 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 Delaware immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Delaware military records

You've only scratched the surface of Delaware family history

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What is the average Delaware lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Delaware life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2004, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Delaware in 1956 was 50, and 43 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Delaware

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Delaware family tree

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