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Gelser Family History

Gelser 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: Geller, Gelder, Genser, Geiser, Felser, Selser, Belser, Welser

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gelser family from?

You can see how Gelser families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gelser family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Gelser families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Gelser family living in Caernarvonshire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Gelser's in United Kingdom. Caernarvonshire and 1 other county had the highest population of Gelser families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gelser 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 Gelser ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gelser. 82% of Gelser men worked as a Farmer and 67% of Gelser women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gelser were Lawyer and Clerk.

View Census Data for Gelser | 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
    82%
  • Lawyer
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    67%
  • Clerk
    34%

What Gelser family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Gelser

Passenger Lists

There are 94 immigration records available for the last name Gelser. 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 Gelser immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 74 military records available for the last name Gelser. For the veterans among your Gelser ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gelser military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gelser family history

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What is the average Gelser lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Gelser life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2001, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Gelser in 1962 was 76, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gelser

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gelser 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.

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