Daily AncestorFinal destination
Final destination on a passenger list is the state and city or town in the U.S. where the immigrant said he was going after landing.
The column appears on immigration lists from 1903 as Final Destination (State, City or Town), and the next column asked whether the passenger had a ticket to that place. The earlier customs list form of 1882 already asked passengers other than cabin class for their intended destination or location in the United States.
Treat the answer as a plan, not proof of where the family settled. It is still a strong lead, especially read together with the column naming the relative or friend the person was going to join, whose address is often in the same town.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Final destination." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/immigration/final-destination. Last checked 2026-10-12.