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Elmer Family History

Elmer Name Meaning

English: variant of Elmore . English: habitational name from Elmer in Middleton (Sussex) probably named with Old English ǣl ‘eel’ + mere ‘pool’. German: topographic name for someone living near elm trees from Middle High German elm ‘elm tree’. Swiss German: habitational name from a village so named in Glarus canton. North German: from an ancient Germanic personal name composed of agil ‘point edge (of a sword)’ + mar ‘well known famous’.

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


Similar surnames: Eller, Helmer, Almer, Emmer, Lier, Ulmer, Eimer, Ehmer, Elter, Hilmer

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Elmer family from?

You can see how Elmer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Elmer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Elmer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 266 Elmer families living in Suffolk. This was about 21% of all the recorded Elmer's in United Kingdom. Suffolk had the highest population of Elmer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Elmer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Elmer ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Elmer. 18% of Elmer men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Elmer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Elmer were Police Constable and Household Duties (unpaid). .

View Census Data for Elmer | 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

  • General Labourer
    18%
  • Farm Labourer
    8%
  • Retired
    6%
  • Police Constable
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Elmer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 60,000 census records available for the last name Elmer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Elmer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Elmer

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Elmer. 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 Elmer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Elmer. For the veterans among your Elmer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Elmer military records

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What is the average Elmer lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Elmer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1967. The average life expectancy for Elmer in 1953 was 32, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Elmer

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