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Ferdinand Family History

Ferdinand Name Meaning

German French English and West Indian (mainly Haiti): from an ancient Visigothic personal name composed of the elements farthu ‘journey expedition’ (or a metathesized form of frithu ‘peace’) + nanths ‘daring brave’. As a surname this is of comparatively recent origin in German-speaking countries and in France for the personal name was not introduced from Spain (see Fernando ) until the late 15th century. It was brought to Austria by the Habsburg dynasty among whom it was a hereditary name and from Austria it spread to France. Iberian cognates are of more ancient origin and more frequently found today since the name was much favored in the royal house of Castile. It owes its popularity in large part to King Ferdinand III of Castile and León (1198–1252) who recaptured large areas of Spain from the Moors and was later canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.

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

Similar surnames: Fernando, Herdman, Frediani, Fernald, Weinand, Merrigan, Fermin

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Where is the Ferdinand family from?

You can see how Ferdinand families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ferdinand family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ferdinand families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 25 Ferdinand families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 35% of all the recorded Ferdinand's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Ferdinand families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ferdinand surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Ferdinand

What Ferdinand family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Ferdinand. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ferdinand census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Ferdinand
Passenger Lists
There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Ferdinand. 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 Ferdinand immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Ferdinand. For the veterans among your Ferdinand ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Ferdinand military records

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Ferdinand. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ferdinand census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Ferdinand

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Ferdinand. 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 Ferdinand immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Ferdinand. For the veterans among your Ferdinand ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ferdinand military records

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What is the average Ferdinand lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Ferdinand life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Ferdinand in 1950 was 25, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ferdinand

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