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Kernaghan Family History

Kernaghan Surname Meaning

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cearnacháin ‘descendant of Cearnachán’ a personal name based on cearnach ‘victorious’.

The name features the diminutive ending -án, which is common in Irish personal names.

This name reflects both familial lineage and personal attributes, emphasizing victory.

The evolution of the name illustrates the intertwining of language and heritage in Irish culture.

Understanding such names provides insight into the histories and identities of individuals within the community.

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


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Where is the Kernaghan family from?

You can see how Kernaghan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kernaghan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Kernaghan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 48 Kernaghan families living in Ontario. This was about 76% of all the recorded Kernaghan's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Kernaghan families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kernaghan 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 Kernaghan ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Kernaghan. 50% of Kernaghan men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Kernaghan | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    50%
  • Labourer
    30%
  • Salesman
    20%

What Kernaghan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Kernaghan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kernaghan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kernaghan

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 728 military records available for the last name Kernaghan. For the veterans among your Kernaghan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kernaghan military records

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What is the average Kernaghan lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Kernaghan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1990, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Kernaghan in 1959 was 58, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kernaghan

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

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