This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Nathan family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Nathan Family History

Nathan Surname Meaning

Jewish Assyrian/Chaldean English French and German: from the Biblical personal name Natan (Nathan in English French and German) meaning ‘given (by God)’ in Hebrew. In Europe the personal name was comparatively rare among non-Jews in the Middle Ages (although always common among Jews); as a modern surname it is most frequently Jewish.

Sometimes this is also a Jewish short form of the personal name Jonathan or Nathaniel. Indian (mainly southern states): from a personal name derived from Sanskrit nātha ‘lord’.

Note: Since South Indians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames the southern Indian name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Nathan family from?

You can see how Nathan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nathan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nathan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 691 Nathan families living in London. This was about 57% of all the recorded Nathan's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Nathan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nathan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Nathan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Tailor and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Nathan. 8% of Nathan men worked as a Tailor and 67% of Nathan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nathan were Cabinet Maker and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Nathan | 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 1939

  • Tailor
    8%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Ladies Tailor
    6%
  • Cabinet Maker
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

What Nathan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 82,000 census records available for the last name Nathan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nathan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Nathan

Passenger Lists

There are 23,000 immigration records available for the last name Nathan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Nathan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Nathan. For the veterans among your Nathan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nathan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nathan family history

Discover More

What is the average Nathan lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Nathan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Nathan in 1943 was 57, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nathan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nathan ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Nathan family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial