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Paterna Family History

Paterna Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Patera, Materna, Paterno, Pitera, Patella, Taverna, Perna, Pasternak

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Paterna family from?

You can see how Paterna families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Paterna family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Paterna families were found in USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 6 Paterna families living in New York. This was about 19% of all the recorded Paterna's in USA. New York had the highest population of Paterna families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Paterna surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Paterna ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Paterna. 28% of Paterna men worked as a Laborer. .

View Census Data for Paterna | 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
    28%
  • Hired Man
    19%
  • Die Setters Help
    19%
  • Barber
    19%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Paterna family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 804 census records available for the last name Paterna. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Paterna census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Paterna

Passenger Lists

There are 326 immigration records available for the last name Paterna. 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 Paterna immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 136 military records available for the last name Paterna. For the veterans among your Paterna ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Paterna military records

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What is the average Paterna lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2002, in the United States, Paterna life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Paterna in 1961 was 65, and 83 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Paterna

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Paterna family tree

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