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Bovan Family History

Bovan Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Govan, Boman, Boran, Boven, Boan, Boyan, Bocan, Hovan, Bogan, Bohan

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bovan family from?

You can see how Bovan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bovan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Bovan families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 12 Bovan families living in Ontario. This was about 71% of all the recorded Bovan's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Bovan families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bovan 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 Bovan ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Cook were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bovan. 55% of Bovan men worked as a Laborer and 43% of Bovan women worked as a Cook. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bovan were Fireman and Farm Laborer.

View Census Data for Bovan | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    55%
  • Farmer
    30%
  • Manager
    9%
  • Fireman
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Cook
    43%
  • Housekeeper
    29%
  • Farm Laborer
    29%

What Bovan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Bovan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bovan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bovan

Passenger Lists

There are 355 immigration records available for the last name Bovan. 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 Bovan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 99 military records available for the last name Bovan. For the veterans among your Bovan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bovan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bovan family history

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What is the average Bovan lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Bovan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Bovan in 1950 was 56, and 86 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bovan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bovan ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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