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Pelson Family History

Pelson 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: Elson, Nelson, Person, Melson, Kelson, Belson, Pelton, Penson, Polson

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pelson family from?

You can see how Pelson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pelson family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pelson families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1851 there were 3 Pelson families living in Aberdeenshire. This was about 75% of all the recorded Pelson's in Scotland. Aberdeenshire had the highest population of Pelson families in 1851.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pelson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1851
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1901
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What did your Pelson ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pelson. 31% of Pelson men worked as a Farmer and 43% of Pelson women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pelson were Painter and Waitress.

View Census Data for Pelson | 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
    31%
  • Laborer
    31%
  • Contractor
    10%
  • Painter
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    43%
  • Bookkeeper
    29%
  • Waitress
    29%

What Pelson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 851 census records available for the last name Pelson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pelson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pelson

Passenger Lists

There are 244 immigration records available for the last name Pelson. 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 Pelson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 97 military records available for the last name Pelson. For the veterans among your Pelson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pelson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pelson family history

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What is the average Pelson lifespan?

Between 1969 and 2003, in the United States, Pelson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Pelson in 1969 was 91, and 85 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pelson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pelson 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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