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Valentine Family History

Valentine Surname Meaning

English and Scottish (Angus and Aberdeenshire): from the Middle English and Old French personal name Valentin Latin Valentinus a derivative of valens ‘strong healthy’ which was never common in England but is occasionally found from the end of the 12th century probably as the result of French influence. The name was borne by a 3rd-century Christian saint and martyr whose chief claim to fame is that his feast falls on February 14 the date of a traditional celebration of spring going back to the Roman fertility festival of Juno Februata. A 5th-century missionary bishop of Rhaetia of this name was venerated especially in southern Germany being invoked as a patron against gout and epilepsy. In North America this surname has absorbed cognates from other languages e.g. German Croatian Czech and Slovenian Valentin Italian Valentino .

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


Similar surnames: Valentin, Valentino, Valente, Valenti, Valent, Valenzano, Gentile

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Valentine family from?

You can see how Valentine families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Valentine family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Valentine families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 212 Valentine families living in New York. This was about 37% of all the recorded Valentine's in USA. New York had the highest population of Valentine families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Valentine surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Valentine ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Valentine. 18% of Valentine men worked as a Laborer and 8% of Valentine women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Valentine were Truck Driver and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Valentine | 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
    18%
  • Farmer
    12%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    8%
  • Housewife
    7%
  • Teacher
    5%
  • Housekeeper
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Valentine family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 229,000 census records available for the last name Valentine. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Valentine census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Valentine

Passenger Lists

There are 25,000 immigration records available for the last name Valentine. 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 Valentine immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 38,000 military records available for the last name Valentine. For the veterans among your Valentine ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Valentine military records

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What is the average Valentine lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Valentine life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Valentine in 1941 was 48, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Valentine

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