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Golay Family History

Golay Surname Meaning

Swiss French: nickname or topographic name derived from regional gola gaula ‘mouth opening’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Golay family from?

You can see how Golay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Golay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Golay families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 11 Golay families living in Ontario. This was about 55% of all the recorded Golay's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Golay families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Golay 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 Golay ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Golay. 32% of Golay men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Golay women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Golay were Pattern Maker and Nurse.

View Census Data for Golay | 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

  • Farmer
    32%
  • Farm Laborer
    12%
  • Salesman
    9%
  • Pattern Maker
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    34%
  • Cashier
    25%
  • Seamstress
    25%
  • Nurse
    17%

What Golay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Golay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Golay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Golay

Passenger Lists

There are 474 immigration records available for the last name Golay. 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 Golay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 555 military records available for the last name Golay. For the veterans among your Golay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Golay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Golay family history

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What is the average Golay lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Golay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Golay in 1956 was 56, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Golay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Golay 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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