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Buffalo Family History

Buffalo Name Meaning

English: apparently an American English nickname from buffalo perhaps denoting a large powerfully built man. Alternatively perhaps an altered form of an unidentified surname possibly English Bovill . Compare Buffaloe and Buffalow . Native American: translation into English (and shortening) of a personal name based on a word such as Lakota and Dakota Sioux tataŋka and Cheyenne hotoa'e meaning ‘buffalo’ or ‘bull’. See also Bull 5.

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


Similar surnames: Buffin, Buffo, Ruffalo, Buffaloe, Bufalino, Buffa, Huffer, Barbaro

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Buffalo family from?

You can see how Buffalo families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Buffalo family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Buffalo families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there was 1 Buffalo family living in Illinois. This was 100% of all the recorded Buffalo's in USA. Illinois had the highest population of Buffalo families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Buffalo surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Buffalo ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Buffalo. 39% of Buffalo men worked as a Laborer and 17% of Buffalo women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Buffalo were Helper and Maid. .

View Census Data for Buffalo | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    39%
  • Farmer
    21%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Helper
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    17%
  • Housekeeper
    15%
  • Laborer
    15%
  • Maid
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Buffalo family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Buffalo. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Buffalo census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Buffalo

Passenger Lists

There are 373 immigration records available for the last name Buffalo. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Buffalo immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Buffalo. For the veterans among your Buffalo ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Buffalo military records

You've only scratched the surface of Buffalo family history

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What is the average Buffalo lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Buffalo life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Buffalo in 1946 was 58, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Buffalo

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Buffalo family tree

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