Defoe Family History

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Defoe Name Meaning

Of uncertain origin; probably an Anglicized form of a French Huguenot name.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Defee, Deboe, Devoe, Deyoe, Devoy, Demme, Debose, Devol, Depoe

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Defoe Family Origin

Where is the Defoe family from?

Location
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You can see how Defoe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Defoe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Defoe families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 81 Defoe families living in Ontario. This was about 70% of all the recorded Defoe's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Defoe families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Defoe surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Defoe

Defoe Family Occupations

What did your Defoe ancestors do for a living?

In 1881, the most common Defoe occupation in Canada was Farmer. 23% of Defoe's were Farmers. Farmer, Labourer and Servant were the top 3 reported jobs worked by Defoe. A less common occupation for the Defoe family was Barrister.

View Census data for Defoe | Data not to scale

  • Farmer

    23%

  • Labourer

    9%

  • Servant

    9%

  • Barrister

    5%

Census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your Defoe ancestors, such as occupation. Occupation can tell you about your ancestor's social and economic status.

Defoe Historical Records

What Defoe family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Defoe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Defoe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search 1881 Canadian census records for Defoe

Passenger List

There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Defoe. 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 Defoe immigration records

Draft Card

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

View all Defoe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Defoe family history.

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Defoe Life Expectancy

What is the average Defoe lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Defoe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Defoe in 1955 was 23, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Defoe

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Defoe 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.

Famous Defoe Family

Is anyone famous hiding in your tree?

John Philip Sousa1854 - 1932 (77)
Nikola Tesla1856 - 1943 (86)
Ella Fitzgerald1918 - 1996 (78)
Frank Lloyd Wright1867 - 1959 (91)
Mark Twain1835 - 1910 (74)
James Dean1931 - 1955 (24)
Ansel Easton Adams1902 - 1984 (82)
Martin Luther King, Jr.1929 - 1968 (39)
John Philip Sousa1854 - 1932 (77)
Nikola Tesla1856 - 1943 (86)
Ella Fitzgerald1918 - 1996 (78)
Frank Lloyd Wright1867 - 1959 (91)
Mark Twain1835 - 1910 (74)
James Dean1931 - 1955 (24)
Ansel Easton Adams1902 - 1984 (82)
Martin Luther King, Jr.1929 - 1968 (39)
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