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Nellis Family History

Nellis Surname Meaning

Flemish and German: variant of Nelis. Irish (Ulster): shortened form of Mac Niallghuis see McNelis Nelis.

English (North Yorkshire): of uncertain origin. A derivation from Middle English Nellis an unrecorded rhyming pet form of Ellis is not impossible.

Alternatively, it might be a variant of Neels, though this name is rarely recorded in northern England.

The earliest spellings of the name have final -t (Nellist), generally assumed to be excrescent and not original to the name.

However, the ubiquity of this feature suggests it may be intrinsic to the true etymology.

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


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Where is the Nellis family from?

You can see how Nellis families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nellis family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nellis families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 61 Nellis families living in Yorkshire. This was about 36% of all the recorded Nellis's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Nellis families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nellis 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 Nellis 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 Nellis. 60% of Nellis men worked as a General Labourer and 88% of Nellis women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nellis were Farmer and Household Duties Unpaid.

View Census Data for Nellis | 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
    60%
  • Farmer
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    88%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Household Duties Unpaid
    4%

What Nellis family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Nellis. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nellis census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Nellis

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Nellis. 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 Nellis immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Nellis. For the veterans among your Nellis ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nellis military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nellis family history

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What is the average Nellis lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Nellis life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Nellis in 1952 was 45, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nellis

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nellis 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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