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Gibson Family History

Gibson Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English and Older Scots personal name Gibb (a pet form of Gilbert) + son hence ‘son of Gibb’. The name is very common in Ireland having arrived in that country in the 17th century. It is also occasionally adopted for Ó Gibealláin see Giblin . This surname is also common among African Americans.

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


Similar surnames: Gipson, Sibson, Gibbon, Gilson, Kitson, Dobson, Eidson, Wilson

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Where is the Gibson family from?

You can see how Gibson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gibson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gibson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 306 Gibson families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 13% of all the recorded Gibson's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Gibson families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gibson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Gibson ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gibson. 17% of Gibson men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Gibson women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gibson were Truck Driver and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Gibson | 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
    17%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Teacher
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gibson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Gibson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gibson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 166,000 immigration records available for the last name Gibson. 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 221,000 military records available for the last name Gibson. For the veterans among your Gibson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Gibson family history

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What is the average Gibson lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Gibson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Gibson in 1940 was 35, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gibson

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