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Colvan Family History

Colvan 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: Colgan, Colman, Colvin, Colan, Covan, Coleman, Colton, Cogan, Polman

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Colvan family from?

You can see how Colvan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Colvan family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Colvan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 5 Colvan families living in New York. This was about 42% of all the recorded Colvan's in USA. New York and 1 other state had the highest population of Colvan families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Colvan 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 Colvan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Household Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Colvan. 100% of Colvan women worked as an Unpaid Household Duties.

View Census Data for Colvan | 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.

England shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Household Duties
    100%

What Colvan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 457 census records available for the last name Colvan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Colvan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Colvan

Passenger Lists

There are 65 immigration records available for the last name Colvan. 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 Colvan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 60 military records available for the last name Colvan. For the veterans among your Colvan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Colvan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Colvan family history

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What is the average Colvan lifespan?

Between 1971 and 1999, in the United States, Colvan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1981, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Colvan in 1971 was 77, and 74 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Colvan

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

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