This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Gervais family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Gervais Family History

Gervais Surname Meaning

French: from the personal name Gervais (see Jarvis). Compare Jarvey 2 and Jarvis.

Altered form of French Gervaise a variant of 1 above.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gervais family from?

You can see how Gervais families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gervais family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gervais families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 2,322 Gervais families living in Quebec. This was about 86% of all the recorded Gervais's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Gervais families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gervais surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Gervais ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Cultivateur and Couturire were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Gervais. 17% of Gervais men worked as a Cultivateur and 7% of Gervais women worked as a Couturire. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gervais were Fils De Cultivateur and Commis.

View Census Data for Gervais | 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
    17%
  • Journalier
    16%
  • Farmer
    9%
  • Fils De Cultivateur
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Couturire
    7%
  • Modiste
    7%
  • Servante
    7%
  • Commis
    7%

What Gervais family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 49,000 census records available for the last name Gervais. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gervais census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Gervais

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Gervais. 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 Gervais immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Gervais. For the veterans among your Gervais ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gervais military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gervais family history

Discover More

What is the average Gervais lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Gervais life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Gervais in 1948 was 55, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gervais

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gervais 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gervais family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial