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Cavan Family History

Cavan Name Meaning

Irish (Down): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Caomháin ‘son of Caomhán (Kevin)’ a diminutive of the personal name Caomh (see O'Keefe ). In some cases the name may perhaps be an alternative Anglicized form of Caomhánach (see Kavanagh ). Filipino: variant of Caban . Vietnamese: apparently from a combination of two personal names (the middle name Cả meaning ‘the eldest’ and the personal name Văn meaning ‘literature’) recorded as a surname after immigration of its bearers to the US.

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


Similar surnames: Coan, Savin, Caban, Cryan, Cahan, Cavin, Kavan, Cannan, Naman, Caton

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 Cavan family from?

You can see how Cavan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cavan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cavan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Cavan families living in Kentucky. This was about 33% of all the recorded Cavan's in USA. Kentucky and 1 other state had the highest population of Cavan families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cavan 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 Cavan ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Secretary were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Cavan. 22% of Cavan men worked as a Salesman and 60% of Cavan women worked as a Secretary. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cavan were Painter and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Cavan | 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

  • Salesman
    22%
  • Laborer
    19%
  • Electrician
    13%
  • Painter
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Secretary
    60%
  • Clerk
    40%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Cavan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Cavan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cavan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Cavan

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Cavan military records

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What is the average Cavan lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Cavan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1966, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Cavan in 1963 was 80, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cavan

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