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Kelvin Family History

Kelvin Surname Meaning

Scottish (Glasgow): perhaps a variant of Kelvey, a shortened form of McKelvey. Alternatively it may be a shortened form of McKelvin, for which there is little historical evidence.

There is no known connection with the River Kelvin or with the modern settlement of Kelvinside in Glasgow.

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


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Where is the Kelvin family from?

You can see how Kelvin families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kelvin family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kelvin families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 8 Kelvin families living in Northumberland. This was about 38% of all the recorded Kelvin's in United Kingdom. Northumberland had the highest population of Kelvin families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kelvin 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 Kelvin ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Kelvin. 75% of Kelvin women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Kelvin | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    25%

What Kelvin family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Kelvin

Passenger Lists

There are 483 immigration records available for the last name Kelvin. 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 Kelvin immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 158 military records available for the last name Kelvin. For the veterans among your Kelvin ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kelvin military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kelvin family history

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What is the average Kelvin lifespan?

Between 1969 and 2003, in the United States, Kelvin life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Kelvin in 1969 was 68, and 65 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kelvin

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kelvin 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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