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 Cahan family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Cahan Family History

Cahan Surname Meaning

Irish: shortened form of McCahan or O'Cahan (see O'Kane). Jewish: variant of Cohen.

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 Cahan family from?

You can see how Cahan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cahan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cahan families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 20 Cahan families living in Manitoba. This was about 27% of all the recorded Cahan's in Canada. Manitoba had the highest population of Cahan families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cahan 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 Cahan ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Cahan. 24% of Cahan men worked as a Salesman and 25% of Cahan women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cahan were Proprietor and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Cahan | 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

  • Salesman
    24%
  • Laborer
    12%
  • Clerk
    10%
  • Proprietor
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    25%
  • Clerk
    25%
  • Secretary
    20%
  • Housekeeper
    10%

What Cahan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Cahan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cahan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Cahan

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Cahan. 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 Cahan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 631 military records available for the last name Cahan. For the veterans among your Cahan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cahan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cahan family history

Discover More

What is the average Cahan lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2003, in the United States, Cahan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Cahan in 1952 was 56, and 88 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cahan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cahan 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 Cahan family tree

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