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Khan Family History

Khan Name Meaning

Muslim (also common among African Americans): from khan an English spelling of a status name based on Mongolian khaan ‘(military) ruler sovereign’. This was originally a hereditary title among Tartar and Mongolian tribesmen (in particular Genghis Khan 1162–1227) but is now very widely used throughout the Muslim world as a surname. In Iran and parts of the Indian subcontinent it is used as an honorific title after a person's name.

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


Similar surnames: Han, Shan, Kan, Hahn, Bean, Kwon, Oran, Kano, Ahn, Kuhn

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Khan family from?

You can see how Khan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Khan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Khan families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 14 Khan families living in British Columbia. This was 100% of all the recorded Khan's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Khan families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Khan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Khan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Student and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Khan. 23% of Khan men worked as a Student and 90% of Khan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Khan were Fireman Seagoing and Unpaid Domestic. .

View Census Data for Khan | 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.

England shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Student
    23%
  • Ships Fireman
    13%
  • Draper
    7%
  • Fireman Seagoing
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    90%
  • Domestic Duties
    7%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
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What Khan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Khan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Khan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Khan

Passenger Lists

There are 18,000 immigration records available for the last name Khan. 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 Khan immigration records

Draft Cards

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

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What is the average Khan lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Khan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Khan in 1951 was 45, and 61 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Khan

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