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Kanai Family History

Kanai Surname Meaning

Japanese: written 金井 ‘gold well’. It is found mostly in the Tokyo area and the Ryūkyū Islands.

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 Kanai family from?

You can see how Kanai families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kanai family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1911 and 1920. The most Kanai families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 5 Kanai families living in British Columbia. This was 100% of all the recorded Kanai's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Kanai families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kanai 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 Kanai ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Dressmaker were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kanai. 20% of Kanai men worked as a Salesman and 34% of Kanai women worked as a Dressmaker. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kanai were Foreman and Farm Hand.

View Census Data for Kanai | 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
    20%
  • Laborer
    14%
  • Barber
    14%
  • Foreman
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Dressmaker
    34%
  • Bookkeeper
    34%
  • Farm Hand
    34%

What Kanai family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 743 census records available for the last name Kanai. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kanai census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kanai

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 134 military records available for the last name Kanai. For the veterans among your Kanai ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kanai military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kanai family history

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What is the average Kanai lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Kanai life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1979. The average life expectancy for Kanai in 1959 was 48, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kanai

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

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