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Rathbun Family History

Rathbun Name Meaning

English: nickname for someone quick on his feet from Middle English rath (Old English hræth) ‘eager swift’ + bon (Old English bān) ‘bone’ specifically here the leg bone. In some instances the name was recorded with bayn (Old Norse beinn) ‘bone leg’ in place of native English ban(e). This form of the surname is now rare in Britain.

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


Similar surnames: Rathburn, Hathorn, Mashburn, Ashmun, Lathan, Rabun, Rathfon, Rathbone

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Where is the Rathbun family from?

You can see how Rathbun families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rathbun family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rathbun families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 21 Rathbun families living in Ontario. This was about 91% of all the recorded Rathbun's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Rathbun families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rathbun surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Rathbun ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Rathbun. 60% of Rathbun men worked as a Farmer. .

View Census Data for Rathbun | 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

  • Farmer
    60%
  • Machinist
    14%
  • Clerk
    14%
  • Merchant
    14%
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What Rathbun family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 33,000 census records available for the last name Rathbun. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rathbun census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Rathbun

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Rathbun. 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 Rathbun immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Rathbun. For the veterans among your Rathbun ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rathbun military records

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What is the average Rathbun lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Rathbun life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Rathbun in 1940 was 39, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rathbun

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