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Cleland Family History

Cleland Surname Meaning

Scottish (Glasgow and Stirlingshire) and Irish (Down):: shortened form of McClelland.

It is a habitational name from the lands of Cleland in Dalziel (Lanarkshire).

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cleland family from?

You can see how Cleland families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cleland family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cleland families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 49 Cleland families living in London. This was about 26% of all the recorded Cleland's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Cleland families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cleland 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 Cleland ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Fitter and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cleland. 25% of Cleland men worked as a Fitter and 78% of Cleland women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cleland were Schoolmaster and Unpaid House Duties.

View Census Data for Cleland | 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

  • Fitter
    25%
  • Motor Driver
    25%
  • Private Means
    25%
  • Schoolmaster
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Private Means
    7%
  • Household Duties Unpaid
    4%
  • Unpaid House Duties
    3%

What Cleland family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 45,000 census records available for the last name Cleland. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cleland census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cleland

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Cleland. 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 Cleland immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Cleland. For the veterans among your Cleland ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cleland military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cleland family history

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What is the average Cleland lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Cleland life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Cleland in 1941 was 29, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cleland

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

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