Fun Facts about Dads

Dad, dada, daddy, padre, papito. Tomorrow’s the big day for dads around the country – Father’s Day.

Here are some fun facts about the demographics of fathers all over the world based on information from the collaborative family history site Geni (www.geni.com).

• ·         The average number of children per father around the world is 3.5.
• ·         The male to female ratio is 51.7% to 48.3%.
• ·         The country with the most children per father is Malaysia at 3.8 children per dad.
• ·         The country with the least children per father is Russia at 2.4 children per dad.
• ·         Jose is the most common name for men who are most likely to be fathers.
• ·         Ryan is the most common name for men who are least likely to be fathers.

According to www.history.com, the United States started celebrating Father’s Day in 1910, a few years after we started celebrating Mother’s Day (quid pro quo).  It didn’t become an official holiday until 1972. It is always celebrated on the third Sunday in June.

It was started in Spokane, Washington by Sonora Smart Dodd whose father was a Civil War veteran who raised her and her five siblings after her mother passed away during childbirth. June was chosen because her father’s birthday was in June. She got the idea while sitting in church, listening to a sermon about Mother’s Day.

Have a happy, safe Father’s Day!