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Clelan Family History

Clelan Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Cleland, Coleman, Callan, Mclean, Clear, Belan, Selan, Keelan, Crehan

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Clelan family from?

You can see how Clelan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Clelan family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Clelan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1841 there was 1 Clelan family living in Wigtownshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Clelan's in Scotland. Wigtownshire had the highest population of Clelan families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Clelan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1841
  • 1851
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1881
  • 1891
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What did your Clelan ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Clelan. 30% of Clelan men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Clelan | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    30%
  • Salesman
    30%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Farming
    20%

What Clelan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Clelan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Clelan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Clelan

Passenger Lists

There are 42 immigration records available for the last name Clelan. 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 Clelan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 139 military records available for the last name Clelan. For the veterans among your Clelan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Clelan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Clelan family history

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What is the average Clelan lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2002, in the United States, Clelan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Clelan in 1959 was 57, and 89 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Clelan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Clelan 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 Clelan family tree

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