This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Gelle family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Gelle Family History

Gelle Surname Meaning

German: possibly a variant of Gelles. This surname is rare in Germany. Hungarian: from a pet form of the personal name Gellért (see Gellert). French (Gellé): variant of Gelé a nickname from gelé ‘frozen’.

English: variant of Gell or Gill. Filipino: unexplained. Somali: from the Somali personal name Gelle derived from geel ‘camel’. It is also found in Kenya and Djibouti.

— Note: Since Somalis traditionally do not have hereditary surnames this name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gelle family from?

You can see how Gelle families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gelle family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gelle families were found in USA in 1880. In 1841 there was 1 Gelle family living in Aberdeenshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Gelle's in Scotland. Aberdeenshire had the highest population of Gelle families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gelle surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Gelle ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gelle. 44% of Gelle men worked as a Farmer and 43% of Gelle women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gelle were Machinist and Saleswoman.

View Census Data for Gelle | 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
    44%
  • Laborer
    13%
  • Proprietor
    13%
  • Machinist
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    43%
  • Bookkeeper
    29%
  • Saleswoman
    29%

What Gelle family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Gelle

Passenger Lists

There are 342 immigration records available for the last name Gelle. 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 Gelle immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 426 military records available for the last name Gelle. For the veterans among your Gelle ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gelle military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gelle family history

Discover More

What is the average Gelle lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Gelle life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1998, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Gelle in 1963 was 68, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gelle

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial