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Neelsen Family History

Neelsen 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: Nielsen, Nelsen, Neilsen, Nelson, Elsen, Neese, Neeser, Niesen

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Neelsen family from?

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

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Neelsen. 24% of Neelsen men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Neelsen women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Neelsen were Attendant and Bookkeeper.

View Census Data for Neelsen | 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
    24%
  • Painter
    16%
  • Machinist
    12%
  • Attendant
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    34%
  • Teacher
    23%
  • Housework
    23%
  • Bookkeeper
    23%

What Neelsen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 393 census records available for the last name Neelsen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Neelsen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Neelsen

Passenger Lists

There are 451 immigration records available for the last name Neelsen. 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 Neelsen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 36 military records available for the last name Neelsen. For the veterans among your Neelsen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Neelsen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Neelsen family history

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What is the average Neelsen lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2000, in the United States, Neelsen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1968, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Neelsen in 1964 was 82, and 69 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Neelsen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Neelsen 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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