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Sawaya Family History

Sawaya Surname Meaning

Arabic (Lebanon): from Sawaya the Arabic name for Savoy (Italian Savoia; see Savoy). This name originated in Lebanon in the 12th and 13th centuries as a result of intermarriage between Crusaders and local women.

Its bearers are Christians. In some cases possibly also Japanese: written 沢谷 ‘swamp valley’. It is a topographic name also sometimes written 沢屋 ‘swamp’ and ‘shop’.

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


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Where is the Sawaya family from?

You can see how Sawaya families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sawaya family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1891 and 1920. The most Sawaya families were found in USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 11 Sawaya families living in California. This was about 16% of all the recorded Sawaya's in USA. California had the highest population of Sawaya families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sawaya 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 Sawaya ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Marchande was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Sawaya. 100% of Sawaya men worked as a Marchande.

View Census Data for Sawaya | 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

  • Marchande
    100%

What Sawaya family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Sawaya. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sawaya census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Sawaya

Passenger Lists

There are 742 immigration records available for the last name Sawaya. 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 Sawaya immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 365 military records available for the last name Sawaya. For the veterans among your Sawaya ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sawaya military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sawaya family history

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What is the average Sawaya lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Sawaya life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Sawaya in 1961 was 32, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sawaya

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sawaya 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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