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Donelson Family History

Donelson Surname Meaning

Scottish: variant of Donaldson.

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 Donelson family from?

You can see how Donelson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Donelson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Donelson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 6 Donelson families living in Lancashire. This was about 75% of all the recorded Donelson's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Donelson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Donelson 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 Donelson ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Donelson. 30% of Donelson men worked as a Farmer and 10% of Donelson women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Donelson were Salesman and Housewife.

View Census Data for Donelson | 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

  • Farmer
    30%
  • Laborer
    21%
  • Truck Driver
    7%
  • Salesman
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    10%
  • Maid
    10%
  • Cook
    9%
  • Housewife
    9%

What Donelson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Donelson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Donelson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Donelson

Passenger Lists

There are 558 immigration records available for the last name Donelson. 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 Donelson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Donelson. For the veterans among your Donelson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Donelson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Donelson family history

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What is the average Donelson lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Donelson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Donelson in 1949 was 40, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Donelson

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

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