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Spivey Family History

Spivey Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire): from the Middle English personal name Spivi of unexplained etymology. There is a slight possibility that it could be a pet form of ancient Germanic Spirwig attested in the patronymic of a Norman tenant Eudo filius Spireuuic 1086 in Domesday Book (Lincolnshire).

The alteration of Spivey to Spib(e)y as if it were from a placename seems to occur from the 15th century.

However, the letters -v- and -b- are often difficult to distinguish at this time and during the following century.

So, the phonetic change may have occurred later.

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

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Where is the Spivey family from?

You can see how Spivey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Spivey family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Spivey families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 624 Spivey families living in Yorkshire. This was about 78% of all the recorded Spivey's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Spivey families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Spivey 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 Spivey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 54,000 census records available for the last name Spivey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Spivey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Spivey. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 14,000 military records available for the last name Spivey. For the veterans among your Spivey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Spivey lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Spivey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Spivey in 1940 was 33, and 73 in 2004.

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