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Nels Family History

Nels 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: Ness, Nell, Fels, Neis, Nelms, Neals, Neels, Nees, Pels, Neils

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Nels family from?

You can see how Nels families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nels family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nels families were found in USA in 1880. In 1841 there was 1 Nels family living in East Lothian. This was 100% of all the recorded Nels's in Scotland. East Lothian had the highest population of Nels families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nels surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1841
  • 1851
  • 1861
  • 1871
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What did your Nels ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Nels. 34% of Nels men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Nels | 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
    34%
  • Electrician
    17%
  • Laborer
    17%
  • Baker
    17%

What Nels family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Nels. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nels census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Nels

Passenger Lists

There are 465 immigration records available for the last name Nels. 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 Nels immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 484 military records available for the last name Nels. For the veterans among your Nels ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nels military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nels family history

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What is the average Nels lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2003, in the United States, Nels life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1970, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Nels in 1962 was 77, and 61 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nels

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nels 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Nels family tree

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