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Genest Family History

Genest Name Meaning

French: topographic name for someone who lived by a patch of broom Old French genest(e) (from Late Latin planta genesta); or a habitational name from any of several places in various parts of France named with this word. Compare Genet .

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


Similar surnames: Gent, Geist, Gest, West, Hengst, Gonet, Gentes, Great, Gerst, Gelnett

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Genest family from?

You can see how Genest families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Genest family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Genest families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 849 Genest families living in Quebec. This was about 94% of all the recorded Genest's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Genest families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Genest surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Genest ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Cultivateur and Institutrice were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Genest. 26% of Genest men worked as a Cultivateur and 16% of Genest women worked as an Institutrice. Some less common occupations for Americans named Genest were Farmer and Cultivateur. .

View Census Data for Genest | 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

  • Cultivateur
    26%
  • Journalier
    20%
  • Cult
    6%
  • Farmer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Institutrice
    16%
  • Servante
    10%
  • Stenographer
    10%
  • Cultivateur
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Genest family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Genest. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Genest census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Genest

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Genest. For the veterans among your Genest ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Genest military records

You've only scratched the surface of Genest family history

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What is the average Genest lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Genest life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Genest in 1954 was 50, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Genest

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Genest family tree

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