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Gemma Family History

Gemma Surname Meaning

Italian (mainly southern): from the popular medieval female personal name Gemma (from gemma ‘gem’ ‘precious stone’).

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gemma family from?

You can see how Gemma families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gemma family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Gemma families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 6 Gemma families living in Quebec. This was about 60% of all the recorded Gemma's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Gemma families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gemma 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 Gemma ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gemma. 43% of Gemma men worked as a Laborer and 28% of Gemma women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gemma were Proprietor and Press Operator.

View Census Data for Gemma | 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
    43%
  • Weaver
    15%
  • Clerk
    11%
  • Proprietor
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    28%
  • Finisher
    19%
  • Press Worker
    19%
  • Press Operator
    19%

What Gemma family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Gemma. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gemma census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Gemma

Passenger Lists

There are 777 immigration records available for the last name Gemma. 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 Gemma immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 345 military records available for the last name Gemma. For the veterans among your Gemma ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gemma military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gemma family history

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What is the average Gemma lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Gemma life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1964, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Gemma in 1959 was 59, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gemma

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gemma 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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