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Nelssen Family History

Nelssen 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: Nessen, Nelsen, Nelson, Elsen, Nissen, Nesser, Jessen, Kessen

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Nelssen family from?

You can see how Nelssen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nelssen family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there was 1 Nelssen family living in New York. This was about 33% of all the recorded Nelssen's in USA. New York and 2 other states had the highest population of Nelssen families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nelssen 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 Nelssen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Nelssen. 25% of Nelssen men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Nelssen | 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

  • Laborer
    25%
  • Helper
    25%
  • Farm Laborer
    25%
  • Farming
    25%

What Nelssen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 273 census records available for the last name Nelssen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nelssen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Nelssen

Passenger Lists

There are 237 immigration records available for the last name Nelssen. 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 Nelssen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 41 military records available for the last name Nelssen. For the veterans among your Nelssen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nelssen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nelssen family history

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What is the average Nelssen lifespan?

Between 1968 and 2003, in the United States, Nelssen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2003, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Nelssen in 1968 was 78, and 38 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nelssen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nelssen 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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