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Plain Family History

Plain Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): habitational name for someone from Plasnes in Eure.

French: from Old French plain an adjective meaning ‘flat’ and a noun meaning ‘plain’ hence a topographic name denoting e.g. a dwelling on a flat terrain.

Compare Duplain.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Plain family from?

You can see how Plain families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Plain family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Plain families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 30 Plain families living in Ontario. This was about 61% of all the recorded Plain's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Plain families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Plain 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 Plain ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Operatrice were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Plain. 48% of Plain men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Plain women worked as an Operatrice. Some less common occupations for Americans named Plain were Fils De Cultivateur and Chauffeur.

View Census Data for Plain | 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
    48%
  • Labourer
    16%
  • Cultivateur
    12%
  • Fils De Cultivateur
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Operatrice
    50%
  • Chauffeur
    50%

What Plain family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Plain. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Plain census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Plain

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Plain. For the veterans among your Plain ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Plain military records

You've only scratched the surface of Plain family history

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What is the average Plain lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Plain life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Plain in 1956 was 49, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Plain

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Plain 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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