A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Diffners
In the city directories 1940 · three people at two addresses
The directories print three people named Diffner at two addresses in 1940 in two of the city's neighbourhoods. No first name or initials tie one address to the other: we can't tell if they're one family.
Reserve this family's book, freeThe name in every directory we hold from 1901 to 1945, at every address, each line with its page, to read here or save as a PDF. About $29 when orders open.
Where the Diffners lived
- 1
2342 Eton Street
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- G Diffner 1940
Next door in 1940: H Nelson at 2318. The block, door by door
- 2
2594 Grant Street
Hastings-Sunrise, 1940
- E A Diffner, of E A & G Diffner 1940
- Harry Diffner, a painter 1940
Next door in 1940: A H Twyford at 2586. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for one of the three: a painter.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Grandview-Woodland and Hastings-Sunrise. Each neighbourhood's page shows its trades, its people and every street in it, the way the directory printed them.
The story, address by address
In 1940 the directory lists G Diffner at 2342 Eton Street. E A Diffner is listed at 2594 Grant Street in 1940; the 1940 line is marked *: some member of the family owns the property, to the best of our knowledge (the directory's own mark). The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Eric A Diffner there as the householder, of E A & G Diffner, with Harry Diffner, a painter.
Today
2594 Grant still has its building from before 1946, dated 1932 by the City's record; the City no longer lists 2342 Eton, so that building is probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 4 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Diffner G2342 Eton, p. 49
- *Diffner E A2594 Grant, p. 61
- Diffner Eric A of E A & G Diffner2594 Grant, p. 160
- Diffner Harry pntr2594 Grant, p. 160
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Diffners
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Diffner name in each Vancouver directory we hold from 1901 to 1945: everyone printed under it at every address, their work from the name sections, who lived next door, and the page behind every line, to read here or save as a PDF to print or give.
We're opening orders soon. Join the list to be first in line; we expect about $29 a family.
Another name, or a house
Sources
Henderson's and successor city directories for Vancouver, read by us line by line: the street sections for 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1940 and 1945, and the name section for 1930 and 1940 where we've read it (Vancouver Public Library, BC City Directories). Names are shown through 1945, as printed. Close spellings are grouped, as on the house pages, since a family's name was often spelled differently from one year to the next; one name can still be several families, and we join lines only where the first names or initials agree. Many Chinese, Japanese and other residents weren't named by the canvassers, so they can't be listed by name: their houses' pages say where. More family names under D. Want a name removed? Tell us.