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Poe Family History

Poe Name Meaning

English (northern): nickname from Middle English pa(we) po(we) ‘peacock’ (Old English pāwa and Old Norse ). Alternatively from the Middle English personal name Pawe (Old English Pāwa) Latinized as Pavo and derived from the nickname. This surname is also established in Ireland. Burmese (Karen): variant of Po 1 Chinese: variant of Po .

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


Similar surnames: Pope, Roe, Powe, Hoe, Coe, Noe, Pye, Doe, Loe, Boe

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 Poe family from?

You can see how Poe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Poe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Poe families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 33 Poe families living in North Carolina. This was about 14% of all the recorded Poe's in USA. North Carolina had the highest population of Poe families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Poe surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Poe ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Poe. 21% of Poe men worked as a Farmer and 9% of Poe women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Poe were Truck Driver and Maid. .

View Census Data for Poe | 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

  • Farmer
    21%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    9%
  • Housewife
    8%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Maid
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Poe family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 69,000 census records available for the last name Poe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Poe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Poe

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Poe. 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 Poe immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 27,000 military records available for the last name Poe. For the veterans among your Poe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Poe military records

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What is the average Poe lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Poe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Poe in 1943 was 27, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Poe

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Poe family tree

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