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Gurnee Family History

Gurnee Name Meaning

Americanized form of French Garnier . Probably also an altered form of English Gurney .

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


Similar surnames: Guinee, Gorney, Gurley, Curlee, Garnes, Garner, Burnet, Burney

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Gurnee family from?

You can see how Gurnee families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gurnee family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gurnee families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 4 Gurnee families living in British Columbia. This was 100% of all the recorded Gurnee's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Gurnee families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gurnee surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Gurnee ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gurnee. 23% of Gurnee men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Gurnee women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gurnee were Carpenter and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Gurnee | 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
    23%
  • Salesman
    20%
  • Farmer
    17%
  • Carpenter
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    25%
  • Nurse
    25%
  • Stenographer
    25%
  • Teacher
    25%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gurnee family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Gurnee

Passenger Lists

There are 456 immigration records available for the last name Gurnee. 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 Gurnee immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 831 military records available for the last name Gurnee. For the veterans among your Gurnee 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 Gurnee family history

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What is the average Gurnee lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Gurnee life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gurnee in 1962 was 46, and 89 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gurnee

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gurnee family tree

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