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Main Family History

Main Name Meaning

Scottish: from a shortened form of the Scandinavian personal name Magnus which in Older Scots became Manus and Mane. English and Irish (of Norman origin) and also French: from the ancient Germanic personal name Ma(g)ino Meino from magan ‘strength might’. English (of Norman origin): nickname for a large man from Old French magne maine ‘great big’. English (of Norman origin): habitational name from the French province of Maine. Compare Mansell English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Mayenne in northern France. Scottish and English: variant of Mains .7: Americanized form of German Mein or Mehn .

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

Similar surnames: Bain, Mann, Hain, Mein, Marin, Malin, Mains, Cain, Maine, Maino

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Where is the Main family from?

You can see how Main families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Main family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Main families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 89 Main families living in Quebec. This was about 21% of all the recorded Main's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Main families in 1911.

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

View Census Data for Main

What did your Main ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Main | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations In 1921

Farmer
41%
Labourer
8%
Laborer
7%
Carpenter
6%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

Income
17%
Stenographer
13%
Housekeeper
12%
Nurse
8%

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What Main family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 166,000 census records available for the last name Main. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Main census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Main
Passenger Lists
There are 84,000 immigration records available for the last name Main. 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 Main immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 45,000 military records available for the last name Main. For the veterans among your Main ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Main military records

Census Records

There are 166,000 census records available for the last name Main. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Main census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Main

Passenger Lists

There are 84,000 immigration records available for the last name Main. 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 Main immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 45,000 military records available for the last name Main. For the veterans among your Main ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Main military records

You've only scratched the surface of Main family history

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What is the average Main lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Main life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Main in 1940 was 53, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Main

Browse profiles of historical people with the Main last name