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Darwin Family History

Darwin Name Meaning

from the Old English personal name Deorwine, composed of the elements deor ‘dear’ + wine ‘friend’. This name is attested in the 10th century, but it was not common; nevertheless it may have survived long enough to become a Middle English personal name and so given rise to the surname. habitational name from Darwen in Lancashire, named from the Darwin river (earlier Derwent) on which it stands. This seems to be a British name derived from a word meaning ‘oak’.

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


Similar surnames: Harwin, Darling, Carlin, Darin, Tarvin, Larkin, Markin, Marcin

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 Darwin family from?

You can see how Darwin families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Darwin family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Darwin families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 5 Darwin families living in Michigan. This was about 22% of all the recorded Darwin's in USA. Michigan and 1 other state had the highest population of Darwin families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Darwin 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 Darwin ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Darwin. 20% of Darwin men worked as a Farmer and 15% of Darwin women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Darwin were Truck Driver and Maid. .

View Census Data for Darwin | 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
    20%
  • Laborer
    18%
  • Salesman
    8%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    15%
  • Stenographer
    13%
  • Teacher
    10%
  • Maid
    10%
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What Darwin family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Darwin. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Darwin census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Darwin

Passenger Lists

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

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Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Darwin. For the veterans among your Darwin ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Darwin lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Darwin life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Darwin in 1955 was 54, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Darwin

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