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Nelsen Family History

Nelsen Surname Meaning

Americanized form of Danish, Norwegian, and North German Nielsen or Nilsen.

Compare Nelson.

Flemish and German: patronymic from Nelis.

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 Nelsen family from?

You can see how Nelsen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nelsen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nelsen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 22 Nelsen families living in Yorkshire. This was about 42% of all the recorded Nelsen's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Nelsen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nelsen 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 Nelsen 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 Nelsen. 100% of Nelsen men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Nelsen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Nelsen | 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
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Incapacitated
    30%

What Nelsen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 33,000 census records available for the last name Nelsen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nelsen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Nelsen

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Nelsen. 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 Nelsen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Nelsen. For the veterans among your Nelsen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nelsen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nelsen family history

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What is the average Nelsen lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Nelsen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Nelsen in 1949 was 47, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nelsen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nelsen 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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