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Neilson Family History

Neilson Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: variant of Nielson 1 or an Anglicized form of McNeil. English: variant of Nelson.

Americanized form of Swedish Nilsson or Danish, Norwegian, and North German Nielsen (compare Neilsen) or Nilsen.

Compare also Nelson and Nielson.

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 Neilson family from?

You can see how Neilson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Neilson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Neilson families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 121 Neilson families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Neilson's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Neilson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Neilson 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 Neilson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Neilson. 24% of Neilson men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Neilson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Neilson were Aero Inspector and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Neilson | 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 Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    24%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Aero Inspector
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Neilson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 122,000 census records available for the last name Neilson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Neilson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Neilson

Passenger Lists

There are 46,000 immigration records available for the last name Neilson. 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 Neilson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Neilson. For the veterans among your Neilson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Neilson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Neilson family history

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What is the average Neilson lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Neilson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Neilson in 1948 was 31, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Neilson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Neilson 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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