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Onan Family History

Onan Surname Meaning

Irish: variant of Oonan itself a variant of Honeen (see Honan ).

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 Onan family from?

You can see how Onan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Onan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Onan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there was 1 Onan family living in Quebec. This was 100% of all the recorded Onan's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Onan families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Onan 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 Onan ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Onan. 40% of Onan men worked as a Laborer and 30% of Onan women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Onan were Farm Tenant and Operator.

View Census Data for Onan | 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
    40%
  • Farmer
    24%
  • Carpenter
    11%
  • Farm Tenant
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    30%
  • House Work
    30%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Operator
    20%

What Onan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Onan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Onan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Onan

Passenger Lists

There are 258 immigration records available for the last name Onan. 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 Onan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Onan. For the veterans among your Onan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Onan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Onan family history

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What is the average Onan lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Onan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Onan in 1945 was 26, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Onan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Onan 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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